Current iris scanning systems require a person to stand still and look directly into a digital camera from close range.

A new covert iris scanner, developed by Sarnoff Labs in New Jersey, US, will instead use an array of compact, high resolution cameras to scan people's irises as they walk towards a checkpoint, without them even knowing it.

In addition to eventual use in identification, this technology will allow governments and corporations to use your own eyeballs in the same way as browser cookies (albeit these will be harder to clear from the cache).

Learn more at New Scientist or read the full patent application.