News

Biometric airport check-in kiosks to be tested in Tokyo

November 11, 2002

TOKYO -- Japan Airlines (JAL) will test electronic self-service check-in kiosks at Narita airport beginning in January, using computers and cameras that scan and recognize faces.

An infrared beam will scan the iris of a passenger's eye as he or she stands at the self-service kiosk, according to the Pacific Business News. Public statements by government agencies and companies involved in the project have been vague about the precise technology. The terms "face recognition" and "iris scans" refer to two different kinds of biometric identification.

Iris recognition is simpler and the technology more advanced, according to the newspaper. Face recognition, which involves the measurement of numerous facial characteristics by a computer program, is in its early stages.