Article #5: OPENING EYES TO OPEN DOORS: Key at Nine Zero Hotel Is an Iris Scan

Article #5: OPENING EYES TO OPEN DOORS: Key at Nine Zero Hotel Is an Iris Scan by Curt Harler
http://htmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=3E19674330734FF1BBDA3D67B50C82F1&tier=4&id=75D57CDB40E84DC59EE6C20622A66ED0

This article discusses just how technologically advanced today’s society has come. Throughout the course, this technology seemed to be the most cutting edge. According to Harler, a hotel in Boston has a technology that they use for certain guests which does not require keys or key cards. This technology goes above and beyond and makes keys and key cards obsolete. This hotel uses iris scans as a method of access for guests to enter their rooms. While key cards are still available, guests have the option.
The article goes on to discuss how the process is convenient and provides no false positives. The process takes two minutes at check in for guests to have their iris photo taken. Apparently among the hotel’s guests, this method of room access is popular. The main problem that’s stopping many hotels from implementing such a scan is the cost. According to the article, individual scanners cost around $1,000. This is a lot of money, but could be beneficial. This technology has the potential to provide hotel occupants with maximum room security.
Of all the articles I’ve viewed in this hospitality technology class, this one stuck out the most. The fact that this type of technology is already available shows how far our society has really come. This is the most likely just the tip of the iceberg. This technology will most likely become the standard once perfected and perhaps a bit less pricy. This is very effective, but scary when you think about what our society is capable of on a technological level.
For this technology to become the standard, I believe it must be found completely error proof. It would be a problem if system glitches arose. The result would be angry customers and at the end of the day, lost revenue for a hotel. Overall, it is crazy to see how we continue to outdo ourselves technologically. Pretty soon, people will consider keys and key cards to be primitive. They will become obsolete similar to vcr’s etc. I personally would use opt for this technology for gaining access to my hotel room, however, I would expect it to be error free because as stated above, this could be a great hassle.