Template Aging Phenomenon in Iris Recognition

Samuel P. Fenker, Estefan Ortiz, Kevin W. Bowyer

Abstract: Biometric template aging is defined as an increase in recognition error rate with increased time since enrollment. It is believed that template aging does not occur for iris recognition. Several research groups, however, have recently reported experimental results showing that iris template aging does occur. This template aging effect manifests as a shift in the authentic distribution, resulting in an increased false non-match rate. Analyzing results from a three-year time-lapse data set, we find ~150% increase in the false non-match rate at a decision threshold representing a one in two million false match rate. We summarize several known elements of eye aging that could contribute to template aging, including age-related change in pupil dilation. Finally, we discuss various steps that can control the template aging effect in typical identity verification applications.