Iris Scans to facilitate Healthcare for the Homeless by granting UID

London:Researchers at the Lawson Research Institute in London and Canada are carrying out research on iris scans with the aim of finding out how it could help the poor and homeless enjoy healthcare.

Led by the Institute’s Cheryl Forchuk, the iris scans are ultimately supposed to be used as identification for the homeless, who find it difficult to register for healthcare in the absence of it.

“ Speaking with the people about alternate forms of ID, we heard that they didn’t want fingerprints because it was too close to the justice system, and facial recognition might not work because people lose so much weight.”

According to Planet Biometrics,an algorithm has been developed by engineering students from the local Western University that takes iris scans and turns them into a number that becomes the person’s unique ID number . Mr. Forchuk noted that the technology could have wider applications in the region, such as tackling current fraud and bureaucracy:

“There are 100,000 more OHIP numbers than there are Ontarians,”said another official. “Eventually, you could get an iris scan at your doctor’s office and it would go into some kind of database, and every time you access health care, you don’t need a card.” he further added talking about the long term benefits of iris scans being used as identity.