How does face recognition system works to verify identification?
Face recognition system a biometric software application capable of uniquely identifying or verifying a person by comparing and analyzing patterns based on the person’s facial contours. The technology is mostly used for security purposes, though there is increasing interest in other areas of use. Face recognition system has received significant attention as it has the potential for a wide range of application related to law enforcement as well as other enterprises.
Face recognition system is a normal part of everyday life now. Whether it’s a surveillance camera in grocery stores, tagging friends in social media, or logging into our smartphones, face recognition is here to stay. Plus, it’s prime to see even more frequent use as time goes on.
Face Recognition System
The procedure simply requires any device that has digital photographic technology to generate and obtain the images and data necessary to create and record the biometric facial pattern of the person that needs to be identified.
Unlike other identification solutions such as passwords, verification by email, selfies or images, or fingerprint identification, Biometric face recognition system uses unique mathematical and dynamic patterns that make this system one of the safest and most effective ones.
The objective of face recognition system is, from the incoming image, to find a series of data of the same face in a set of training images in a database. The great difficulty is ensuring that this process is carried out in real-time, something that is not available to all biometric facial recognition software providers.
The face recognition system process can perform two variants depending on when it is performed:
- The one in which, for the first time, a face recognition system addresses a face to register it and associate it with an identity, in such a way that it is recorded in the system. This process is also known as digital onboarding with facial recognition.
- The variant in which the user is authenticated, prior to being registered. In this process, the incoming data from the camera is crossed with the existing data in the database. If the face matches an already registered identity, the user is granted access to the system with his credentials.
How does Face Recognition system works?
Most people have seen face recognition system used in movies for decades, but it’s rarely depicted correctly. Every face recognition system works differently—often built on proprietary algorithms—but you can sort out the process into three basic types of technology:
- Detection is the process of finding a face in person. If you’ve ever used a camera that detects a face and draws a box around it to auto-focus, you’ve seen this technology in action. On its own, face detection only focuses on finding a face, not the identity behind it.
- Analysis is the step that maps faces—often by measuring the distance between the eyes, the shape of the chin, the distance between the nose and mouth—and then converts that into a string of numbers or points, often called a “faceprint.” Although analysis can suffer from glitches, particularly involving misidentification, that’s generally problematic only when the faceprint is added to a recognition database.
- Recognition is the attempt to confirm the identity of a person. This process is used for verification, such as in a security feature on a newer device, or for identification, which attempts to answer the question “Who is in this person?” And this is where the technology steps into the creepier side of things.
Technologies vary, but here are the basic steps:
Step 1. A picture of your face is captured from a photo or video. Your face might appear alone or in a crowd. Your image may show you looking straight ahead or nearly in profile.
Step 2. Face recognition system reads the geometry of your face. Key factors include the distance between your eyes and the distance from forehead to chin. The software identifies facial landmarks that are key to distinguishing your face.
Step 3. Your facial signature is compared to a database of known faces.
Step 4. A determination is made. Your faceprint may match that of an image in a facial recognition system database.
Advantages of Face Recognition System
Protects businesses against theft
Business owners use face recognition software and security cameras to identify known or suspected thieves as they enter their stores. This preemptive security measure can help prevent shoplifting. Since people are less likely to commit a crime when they know they are being watched, the technology also serves as a deterrent. With the help of face recognition, it will be easier to track down any burglars, thieves, or other trespassers.
Seamless integration
This is probably one of the biggest benefits for companies. The face recognition system is quite easily integrated so it’s a perfect choice. It does not require spending additional money on its integration and most facial recognition solutions are compatible with the majority of security software.
Automation of identification
Before, security guards had to perform manual identification of a person that took too much time and did not boast high accuracy. But today, facial recognition is completely independent in the identification process and not only takes seconds but is also incredibly accurate. The 3D facial recognition technology and the use of infrared cameras significantly boosted the level of accuracy of facial recognition and made it really hard to fool.
Faster processing
The process of recognizing a face takes a second or less and this is incredibly beneficial for the companies. In the era of constant cyber attacks and advanced hacking tools, companies need a technology that would be both secure and fast. Considering that facial recognition is almost instant, it grants a quick and efficient verification of a person. In addition, it’s hard to fool this technology so this is another bonus.