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Home > An overview of biometric face recognition and video identifying technologies
August 17, 2005
By: Alice Osborn
Biometric face recognition technologies are a new and
evolving measure that governments and firms use to identify
criminals and protect innocent people. However, the makers
of this biometric face technology must contend with the
inevitable ethical issues: what if the wrong person is
identified or what if the technology infringes upon
individual rights? Developers and researchers are constantly
measuring and testing biometric methods to ensure that the
right individual is identified, although the ACLU (American
Civil Liberties Union) asserts that the technology is,
"outpacing our basic privacy rights."
However, public attitudes are becoming less negative, due
in part to 9/11 and the London bombings, and to the
prevalence of DNA testing. Some of these concerns have kept
face recognition products from reaching their full
potential, but these concerns will fall by the wayside when
governments and firms acknowledge that face recognition
technology is the best passive and non-intrusive recognition
technology available.
The biometric identification equipment assigns a
numerical value to every subject captured by hi-tech
cameras. Biometrics identify spacing between the ears, eyes,
and nose, as well as allowing for variants such as facial
hair and glasses. But biometric technologies are not yet as
accurate as fingerprinting. A positive ID can be made with
biometrics 95% of the time, as opposed to 99% of the time
with fingerprinting, but biometrics has the advantage
through image data volume: there are 1.3 billion photographs
of individuals on official databases, versus only several
hundred million sets of fingerprints on file.
Biometric market growth and its applications today
Most of the biometric industry’s revenue comes from
government security applications, with only 20% of the total
coming from the health care, financial services and
transportation industries. The business is growing as the
technology’s performance is improving and non-government
firms are using the biometrics to ensure proper
authorization and authentication when regulating physical
access. State and local governments use face recognition
technologies by providing first-responders to a crime or
accident scene with biometric ID cards.
What about big brother?
The ACLU does not support most face recognition
technology since it claims previous attempts at the
technology have failed. This is true: at the 2001 Super Bowl
in Tampa, the biometric software wrongly identified several
individuals as wanted persons, and there were failed
biometric surveillance installations at several airports.
Left unchecked, civil libertarians feel that face
recognition technologies will trample on individual rights
and freedoms since there are no new laws that address the
use of biometrics. However, the ACLU has gone on record to
accept the use of biometrics in airports areas and for
solving the London bombings.
Biometric experts also concede that the technology is not
foolproof, and would be very dangerous if someone's photo ID
were stolen.
Looking ahead
Applying biometrics for an authentication system must be
a concerted and collaborative effort that takes into account
several components:
- A person's ID and biometrics
- Something that person has such as a key or token
- Something the person knows, such as a PIN or password
Because the biometric technology of today is slightly
inaccurate, other identifying tools need to be used
alongside of it.
Flaws in the face recognition technology will be
challenged and overcome, because identifying suspects
through biometric means will quickly solve cases and will
save lives.
About the Author
Alice Osborn is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. Your
definitive guide to video surveillance equipment, CCTV
cameras and wireless security systems for home and business.
Also See:
[
Biometric Technologies in Video Surveillance Applications ]
[
The History of Biometrics
from Past to Present ]
[
Future Applications of
Biometric Technology ]
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