Portable Retina Scanner Could Protect Your Identity on the Go

The device can identify people by scanning their retina, a light-sensitive layer at the back of the eyeball. Credit: Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems View full size image

A portable retina scanner small enough to fit in a purse could one day be used to combat identity theft and strengthen personal security.
The new device is about 5 inches (12 centimeters) long and 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide, making it more compact than traditional stationary retinal scanners.
"Based on our research, this device is unique with respect to its compactness," Uwe Schelinski, a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems in Dresden, Germany.