U.S. Hotel Testing Iris Scan Room Key

LG Electronics is testing iris scanning at Boston's Nine Zero Hotel, the first U.S. property to experiment with the technology. Travelers who are interested in participating in the test have a digital image of their iris made, which is then converted into a template.

A monitor posted near the traveler's guest room door recognizes the template and releases the door lock. Iris technology primarily is being explored for use as a security measure at airports. Neither LG Electronics, nor Nine Zero would say how long the pilot test is scheduled to last or how travelers have responded to the experiment.