Ocular biometrics developer EyeLock has announced that it will be undertaking a novel marketing exercise, integrating its iris-scanning authentication technology into a 3D printed car. The EyeLock ID technology will be embedded directly in the automobile, which is being developed by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the car will be on display at the 2015 North America International Auto Show.The purpose of the iris-scanning function will be to authenticate the driver’s identity, authorizing the vehicle’s start, and also to provide a customized driving experience tailored to the driver identified, via custom vehicle settings, telematics, and entertainment services. Speaking in a press release, EyeLock marketing and business development executive Anthony Antolino asserted that using EyeLock’s technolgy “across automotive applications enables a contextual and immersive experience for the driver, while unlocking new ways for automakers, content providers and insurers to engage consumers.”
While the attention-grabbing display will certainly be a novel development, it won’t be the first step in the nascent subfield of automotive biometric applications: At last week’s Consumer Electronics Show, Nuance Communications demonstrated its Dragon Drive system, which offers essentially the same service as the one envisioned by EyeLock, but relying instead on voice biometrics. Meanwhile, controversial crowd-sourced cab service Uber has found itself compelled to explore biometric driver authentication in the wake of recent scandals involving its drivers.
In any case, EyeLock is well-positioned in the market with its FIDO-certified technology and CES accolades, and its demonstration in a 3D-printed car is sure to be well-received.
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