However, you overlook the extraordinary performance of iris recognition as documented in several recent independent and government studies.

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The Iris Recognition Immigration System allows registered passengers to enter the U.K. without standing in line at passport control.

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Face and iris recognition tools are already in use.

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Think of a border protection agency that could use iris recognition at an airport's customs checkpoint, or a police or law enforcement agency that needs to verify identities on the go and can't afford large, cumbersome hardware to do so.

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Iris-recognition scanners may eventually be superseded by retina scanners, which experts say provide a more accurate measure of identity.

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According to the UK Border Agency, the new iris-recognition scanners installed at UK airports should get you through immigration in around 20 seconds.

CNN: Fully biometric airports becoming a reality

Fingerprint and iris-recognition technology have significant error rates, too.

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Iris-recognition technology is hardly the stuff of fiction.

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Trials in the UK last year identified a high level of failure in the registration and verification of iris, fingerprint and facial recognition among a pool of 10, 000 British citizens.

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The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the U.N. body that oversees air travel recognizes facial recognition as its primary biometric standard, with iris and fingerprints accepted as the two optional identifiers.

CNN: Fully biometric airports becoming a reality