Iris recognition technology is described as which combination?

• A. expensive, has high FARs
• B. expensive, has low FARs
• C. inexpensive, has low FARs
• D. inexpensive, has high FARs

Answer: (B)

Iris recognition relies on very high-quality imaging, precise segmentation, and robust matching algorithms to distinguish one eye pattern from another with extreme accuracy. That level of performance requires specialized hardware (like near-infrared cameras and controlled lighting), careful enrollment and secure template handling, and sophisticated processing, all of which drive up cost. The strength of iris patterns—being highly unique and relatively stable over time—lets the system operate with a very low false-acceptance rate, meaning impostors are unlikely to be accepted. However, pushing for such low false accepts can involve stricter thresholds and more stringent capture conditions, which can introduce other challenges like higher false rejections in some scenarios. So iris recognition is best described as expensive with a low FAR.