Eye Biometrics

 We experimented with in Retail settings. 

The Eyes Have It  By Samuel Greengard, Commissioned by CACM Staff, May 19, 2022

One of the things that makes biometrics so powerful is that it links humans and machines in a natural way. Instead of tapping out cumbersome passwords or PINs, a physical characteristic such as a face scan or fingerprint becomes the method of authentication. It's convenient, fast, and typically secure.

Yet biometrics is emerging as more than an authentication tool. Researchers are exploring ways to build it into device interfaces, particularly on smartphones. The ability to read eye movements, facial expressions, and other physical characteristics may lead to significant advances in interfaces in the coming years.

"It's possible to greatly enhance the way we interact with devices through biometrics," says Karan Ahuja, a doctoral student at Carnegie Melon University (CMU) and  volunteer co-editor-in-chief of XRDS: Crossroads, the ACM magazine for students. "Embedding the technology into user interfaces could make many actions more natural and instinctive."

Ahuja and a team of researchers at CMU have developed a gaze-tracking tool called EyeMU that allows users to control their devices without having to lift, or apply, a finger. Meanwhile, another group in Japan has developed a system called ReflecTouch that reads the light striking one's pupils and adjusts the interface automatically.

"The integration of biometrics into experiences isn't just about improving interfaces, but human experiences in general," says Eugenio Santiago, senior vice president of user research at Brooklyn, NY-based digital design and consulting firm Key Lime Interactive. "It introduces an opportunity for greater personalization and contextual relevance."

Hands Off

Despite the powerful capabilities of today's smartphones, the functionality and usability of these devices remain somewhat stunted. For example, features like Siri do no good when a person is scrolling through photos or text messages. There's no way to escape swiping and flicking each image or object to arrive at the next one.

Larger devices and increasingly complex apps have also made it difficult to manage tasks—especially if a person has only one hand available. "There's a need to provide a user interface that is easy to use in a variety of situations. Biometrics can serve as a trigger and the sensors built into phones can capture the necessary information," says Xiang Zhang, a graduate student and researcher at Keio University in Yokohama, Japan. ... '