UNISA

IRIS Invigilation Download & Support Page

IRIS Chrome Plugin Download

IRIS Edge Plugin Download

Microsoft Windows Instructions (PDF)

Mac Instructions (PDF)

Setting up your exam environment

  • Most IMPORTANT – Make sure your workspace is well lit
  • Use a quiet room with limited background noise
  • Do not wear headphones, IRIS needs to hear what you hear
  • Don’t have music playing
  • When IRIS is active you will see a pop up window showing the image visible through your web camera
  • When IRIS can make out your face it will draw an outline on top of your image and begin tracking your position.
  • If IRIS can’t see your face, a red warning bar will show in the IRIS pop up window

How to reduce and minimise suspicious behaviour flags

  • Make sure your face is clearly visible at all times.
  • Make sure your workspace is well lit, and that no one else is present or likely to walk past.
  • Make sure your facial features are clearly visible in the camera view, and that your head is distinguishable from the background. You might need to adjust the lighting.
  • Don’t wear a hat or anything that can darken or obscure your face.
  • Always face the screen and camera, avoid looking around as IRIS tracks your eyes.
  • Try to avoid covering your face with your hand.
  • Try not to slouch in your chair.

IRIS Support

  • IRIS Minimum Requirements:
    • Windows Operating System : Windows 10
    • RAM : 8 GB +
    • Hard Drive Space : 200 MB +
    • Chrome/Edge version : latest release
  • IRIS is only compatible with the following browsers:
    • Google Chrome (Preferred)
    • Microsoft Edge (Preferred)
    • Brave (Optional)
  • Each institution will have an IRIS practice test. Please complete this as soon as you have access to it. This quiz is designed to help understand the software, how to use it and to ensure it is working correctly. Please run the practice test on the same machine/computer you will sit your actual assessments and examinations from. This allows you to test your webcam, microphone and audio are all in working order to complete your assessment well in advance.
    • On Campus Students: Required to use Student ID during verification process
    • Online Students: You are able to use additional photo identification for verification : Passports, Drivers License, Proof of Age, etc
  • This is likely to be a Chrome or Edge browser permissions issue. Follow these steps:
    1. Type this into the Chrome or Edge address bar to get to the mic and camera permissions: chrome://settings/content or edge://settings/content
    2.  Click on either Camera or Microphone
    3.  Chrome – Ensure IRIS is in the Allow list and not Blocked
    4.  Edge – Make sure your site permissions for camera and mic are set to “Ask first” and not set to “Blocked”.
    1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, then make sure Camera access is turned on. This setting lets any user on the device choose if they want apps to be able to access the camera.
    2. Make sure Let apps access your camera is turned on. This setting allows you to choose if any of your apps can access the camera. It doesn't set which specific apps can access the camera.
    3. If you don't see an app in the list, it might be a desktop app. Find Let desktop apps access your camera and make sure it's turned on. You can't change camera access settings for individual desktop apps.
    4. Follow the same steps above to check Microphone permissions
    • Note: If you can't change the Camera or Microphone access setting, you'll need an administrator on the device to turn it on for you.
    1. On your Macbook, click the Apple icon and open System Preferences.
    2. Click Security & Privacy.
    3. Click Privacy.
    4. Click "Camera" "Microphone" or "Screen Sharing/Screen Recording"
    5. Then, click the Lock icon to make changes.
    6. Select the checkbox next to Google Chrome to enable camera or microphone permissions. IRIS will be blocked unless you also do this for Screen Sharing.
     
    • If all seems fine, close and restart Chrome/Edge, and try the test again.
    • If it still does not work, please email your teacher/lecturer or the technical support at your institution.
    • If you do not have the IRIS extension installed, you will be unable to sit any proctored assessments or quizzes.
    • You will be prompted to download the extension with the following message if attempting a proctored quiz without IRIS.
  • MICROSOFT EDGE: This issue can arise if you have any ad-blockers or pop-up blockers preventing IRIS from running.
    • Navigate to edge://extensions/
    • Ensure that all extensions are OFF except for IRIS as below.
    • If the above does not work, then navigate to edge://settings/content/popups and toggle "Blocked" off so that it says Pop-ups and redirects are allowed
  • GOOGLE CHROME:  This issue can arise if you have any ad-blockers or pop-up blockers preventing IRIS from running.
    • IRIS is only compatible with Windows, macOS and linux operating systems.
    • You will be unable to run IRIS for assessments and examinations on a phone or tablet.
  • Please attempt the following as a first port of call in the instance you cannot enter a test after installing IRIS:
    • In Google Chrome navigate to the following link : chrome://history/
    • Click on "Clear Browsing Data" from the left side of the page
    • Ensure the following boxes are all ticked
    • Close the whole browser after the data has been cleared and re-open the assessment.
  • It is recommended that you should avoid using your work computer and use a personal/home computer instead . Work computers might be locked down by a corporate security department in many different ways. This could cause issues, as could the corporate VPN or WIFI if you are completing the test from work.
  • Once you have finished the exam, you can re-open your IRIS pop up and click on "Finish Recording". When the recording has finished uploading you will see a green indicator. Once you see this you can close IRIS.
  • If you have closed IRIS during an Assessment. Please close your examination and navigate back to it from the unit page. IRIS will re-launch and you will be able to resume your previous attempt.
  • If this is the case, please close IRIS and the test completley. Please then right-click on the IRIS extension icon in the top of your browser window and click on "Finalise Recordings" This will ensure any outstanding uploads are complete.
    1. Please re-open the browser you were previously using for your examination.
    2. Ensure you are logged into the learning management system you normally use (Moodle, Canvas, etc.)
    3. Right click on the IRIS extension in the top right corner of your browser and click on "Finalize Recordings."
  • Yes, you can use your mobile phone as a webcam with IRIS. We recommend a free tool called Iriun. Here is the link - https://iriun.com/ This mobile phone to webcam adapter is also downloadable from the Google Play Store
    • The most common reason for 'an error has occurred' notification is that your webcam and microphone permissions are not allowing IRIS to access devices.
    • To check please run systems tests on the IRIS Diagnostics Page
    • If the camera and microphone fail the diagnostics test, please refer to "IRIS does not recognise my microphone or webcam"                   or "How to enable device permissions" FAQS.