John Daugman
Encyclopedia
John Daugman is a physicist and Professor of Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
. He is best known for his pioneering work in biometric identification, in particular the development of the Gabor wavelet based iris recognition
algorithm that is (as of 2008) the basis of all commercially available iris recognition systems.
Daugman received his A.B. and Ph.D. degrees at Harvard University and then taught there for 5 years. After short appointments in Germany and in Japan he came to Cambridge University to research and teach computer vision, information theory, and statistical pattern recognition. He held the Johann Bernoulli Chair of Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Groningen
in the Netherlands, and the Toshiba Endowed Chair at the Tokyo Institute of Technology
in Japan
.
and passport-free immigration in the UK, the Netherlands, and many other countries.
Daugman's algorithm uses a Gabor wavelet transform to extract the phase structure of the iris. This is encoded into a very compact bit stream, the IrisCode, that is stored in a database for identification purposes.
University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
The Computer Laboratory is the computer science department of the University of Cambridge. As of 2007, it employs 35 academic staff, 25 support staff, 35 affiliated research staff, and about 155 research students...
. He is best known for his pioneering work in biometric identification, in particular the development of the Gabor wavelet based iris recognition
Iris recognition
Iris recognition is an automated method of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of the irides of an individual's eyes, whose complex random patterns are unique and can be seen from some distance....
algorithm that is (as of 2008) the basis of all commercially available iris recognition systems.
Daugman received his A.B. and Ph.D. degrees at Harvard University and then taught there for 5 years. After short appointments in Germany and in Japan he came to Cambridge University to research and teach computer vision, information theory, and statistical pattern recognition. He held the Johann Bernoulli Chair of Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
in the Netherlands, and the Toshiba Endowed Chair at the Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology
The Tokyo Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. Tokyo Tech is the largest institution for higher education in Japan dedicated to science and technology. Tokyo Tech enrolled 4,850 undergaraduates and 5006 graduate students for 2009-2010...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Iris recognition algorithm
Daugman's iris recognition algorithm first became commercialized in the 1990's. The algorithm automatically recognizes persons in real-time by encoding the random patterns visible in the iris of the eye from some distance, and applying a powerful test of statistical independence. It is currently used in many identification applications such as border crossing controls in United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and passport-free immigration in the UK, the Netherlands, and many other countries.
Daugman's algorithm uses a Gabor wavelet transform to extract the phase structure of the iris. This is encoded into a very compact bit stream, the IrisCode, that is stored in a database for identification purposes.
Awards
He has received several awards, such as:- Presidential Young Investigator Award from the US National Science FoundationNational Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, - Information Technology Award and Medal from the British Computer SocietyBritish Computer SocietyThe British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
, - "Millennium Product" Award from the UK Design Council
- "Time 100" Innovators Award, and
- OBE, Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
from Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.
External links
- Personal website at Cambridge Computer Laboratory