[Android Central Question]

Is just me or is there anyone else who is worried to use Samsung's smartphones who has iris scanner (S8, S8+, Note 8)?

Samsung is saying that if you don't look to IR everything is ok and safe. BUT you never know what kind of virus you have on a smartphone. Maybe you have a virus which could turn on IR and this IR then goes to your eyes all the time when you use the phone!!

I also read this article (dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4597594/Samsung-users-say-iris-scanner-causing-eye-discomfort.html) where they say:
"Although the South Korean firm has deemed the technology safe, studies have found that the protein found in the lens of the eye is very sensitive to the infrared radiation used in the biometric and when exposed, can lead to cataract."
And the article also say: "Voke also noted that damage could occurs as the ‘result of smaller repeated doses’ - which may be similar to the amount your eyes are exposed to while opening your smartphone."

Someone would say ..use the skin (like dbrand) for the smartphone and put the skin over iris scanner to protect you. This is not a good idea. IR can go through items. As you can see on the picture on this link (coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/ir_zoo/lessons/background.html) IR can go through dark plastic bag. So it can probably go through dbrand or some other skin too.

So I am really worried to use Samsung's smartphones. And also iPhone X which use IR to detect your face. So this phone have the same problem.

[belodion]

🙋I should have thought that the shorter wavelengths at the other end of the spectrum would be more hazardous, if there were any hazard at all, and also that any reputable manufacturer would steer very well clear of anything that might be injurious, either immediately or cumulatively. But I'll move the thread to the General News & Discussion forum for comments from members.

[Tim1954]

If you're going to to be be worried about that , you better do some research on microwave energy and your brain...
Ppl who walk around with smartphone permanently attached to their ears bombarding their brain with high frequency radio pulses... ;-)

[chanchan05]

Dude, normal daylight has much more infrared light than the iris scanner. If you think that the iris scanner can damage your eyes, you're better off never opening your eyes at all. Fully half of the light coming from the sun is infrared of higher intensity than the ones from the iris and face scanners on phones.

Heck all things emit infrared radiation at higher frequencies than the phone. The phone just looks at specific frequencies to allow it to scan. In fact the iris scanner on Samsung uses near infrared, which is closest to visible light. It's no more damaging than looking at the screen.

[kenorian]

If you're going to to be be worried about that , you better do some research on microwave energy and your brain...
Ppl who walk around with smartphone permanently attached to their ears bombarding their brain with high frequency radio pulses... ;-)

Not to get off topic, but it's poor analogy. Cell phone operate in the 800-900 MHz range. Microwaves range from 2-3 GHz for ovens and over 100GHz for communications. Of course, while there can be internal thermal damage from microwaves, even at that frequency it is non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation, such as radio and microwave energy, is considered harmful only to the extent of the amount of heat energy it transfers to whatever it hits.

[Stanley Kubrick]

Well, I guess we will all be blind tumor heads soon enough!

[PurpleDragon]

I know it is a crazy idea but I think future devices will be using our DNA for authentication. It should be very reliable and safe, but unfortunately technology is not there yet

[waczze]

There is a study related to this (read it here). It is safe since the wattage of the IR used in Iris scanner (Near-infrared between 650nm to 850nm that is easily capturable by the scanner/camera) is much lower than 10mW. Even at that power level, it takes more than 1000s exposure to damage the retina of the eye. It would be very unlikely since it doesn't take up to 10s for unlocking the phone and also under very low wattage below 1 mW. The brightness of the screen at maximum level is even more dangerous to human eyes.

[Garywilson]

It is still not confirmed whether the IR is harmful to the eyes or not. But that’s how technology works. You have to compromise on a few things. There has been previous research that prove that keeping your eyes close the smartphone screen can damage your eyesight. So one must be careful.