N.J. eye-scanning firm sold for $35 million

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, July, 2006 | by Akweli Parker

Iridian Technologies Inc., the closely held Moorestown company that pioneered eye-scanning technology for security applications, has agreed to be sold for $35 million in cash to Viisage Technology Inc., of Billerica, Mass.

Iridian's devices scan for unique patterns in the iris. Iris recognition falls into a growing and controversial technology category called biometrics - the measurement of biologically unique identifiers, such as iris or thumb scans, to control access to buildings, bank accounts and transportation, among other uses.

Officials at Iridian could not be reached today, but a Viisage spokeswoman said Iridian employs about two dozen. Iridian will move its operations from Moorestown to Jersey City, which is headquarters for Identix Inc., another biometrics...