Science Fiction Dictionary
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Latest By
Category:


Armor
Artificial Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work

"I think we're still on that topic, still trying to figure out what computers are, how they change us, why we use them."
- Neal Stephenson

Public Iris Scanner  
  A device that uses iris-scanning for identification, and does not require subject awareness.  

In the movie, Tom Cruise's character walks through a mall. As he does so, devices placed discretely along the walls shine a light on his eyes.


(Tom Cruise gets an eye scan in Minority Report)

"...Lexus. The road you're on, John Anderton, is the one less traveled..."

Technovelgy from Minority Report (Movie), by Steven Spielberg.
Published by Dreamworks in 2002
Additional resources -

Here is a brief clip from the film; note that John Anderton has had an operation performed that replaces his original irises.


(Time for your eye scan, Mr. Anderton)

The device probably scans the iris of the eye as a person walks by. There are two particularly important aspects of such a device.

The first is that iris scans are considered a highly accurate means of successful biometric authentication. Following the scan, a high-resolution picture of the irides of the eye is available. Pattern recognition software can match any future scan against the original with extremely high confidence in the accuracy of identification.

The second advantage of the movie's fictional system is that it works without the consent or involvement of the subject. At present, iris scans require that the subject move close to a device and hold his head still for the scan.

This technovelgy is used to implement personalized advertisements in the film.

Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |

Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Minority Report (Movie)
  More Ideas and Technology by Steven Spielberg
  Tech news articles related to Minority Report (Movie)
  Tech news articles related to works by Steven Spielberg

Public Iris Scanner-related news articles:
  - India Opts For Nationwide Iris Scanning
  - Covert Iris Scanner Close To Minority Report Future
  - Minority Report Iris Scanners Ordered By US Army
  - SmartIris IDs People In Crowds
  - Mr. Anderton, Beware This Long-Range Iris Scanner

Articles related to Surveillance
FTC: Says Ring Employees Illegally Surveilled Customers
Perching Ambush Drones
India Ponders Always-On Smartphone Location Tracking
LingYuan Vehicle Roof Drones Now Available, ala Blade Runner 2049

Want to Contribute an Item? It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add it here.

<Previous
Next>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's   1950's
1960's   1970's
1980's   1990's
2000's   2010's

Science Fiction in the News

AI Operates An Excavator
'So far as I could see, the thing was without a directing Martian at all.'

US Army IBEX Exoskeleton Walks Troops Out Of Danger
'The suit stands up and starts walking, gripping me round the calves and waist, taking the bulk of my weight off my throbbing feet.'

Boy Makes Biomimetic Turtle Robot
't came out into plain view. Darkington glimpsed a slim body and six short legs of articulated dull metal.'

Elon Musk Wants Data Centers In Space
'Internally it’s made up of millions of components, but the most important ones are the thinking and memory parts of the Mind proper.'

Origin F1 Humanoid Robot's Facial Skin
'I could look down at that face of carefully molded synthetic rubber, tinted the exact shade of the doctor's living flesh.'

Grok And The City Fathers From 'Cities In Flight' By James Blish
'Chris, the City Fathers are not interested in your welfare; I suppose you know that. They're interested in only one thing: the survival of the city.'

Why Not Move A Warehouse District?
'Did you never see a moving house before?'

Will An AI Found A New Religion?
'You must decide how you will worship Me.'

Terraformer Industries Make Methane
'Drake was the young spatial engineer he employed to terraform the little rock...'

I Need An Outdoor Spherical Display
'Usually a spherical display hovered in the centre...'

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

Home | Glossary | Science Fiction Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.