Olga Weis
Last updated Jun 26, 2024
Facial recognition technology is at its peak. It’s been gaining traction not only in the mobile phone industry, security, and military but also in the health industry. It’s being used today to combat the spread of COVID-19, other viruses, and contagious diseases. It’s also mainly being adopted by home intercoms and keyless entry systems by different manufacturers around the world.
Biometrics is now used for electronic or contactless payments, tightening security at airports, public-use buildings, and almost everywhere. As a result, it’s a fast-growing industry with a whopping market size of $12.7 billion by 2028 from $5 billion in 2021.
In this article, you’ll learn about what facial recognition is, how it works, its privacy and security issues, its benefits, and more.
Access control systems nowadays adopt facial recognition technology to improve their security and allow smoother keyless entry.
Facial recognition software in general works just like most biometric access control technologies. They save faceprints to serve as authentication keys for users. This software can not only be used in a single household but can also be utilized in any protected location: buildings, production sites, airports, penitentiaries, or other protected facilities in a residential complex setup. Multiple faceprints can be saved in the access system database to allow authorized entry.
These access control systems use Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to convert facial values into accurate measurements and calculations of people’s facial features to serve as their own unique identity within the system. The AI software that facilitates this process uses coordinates to determine distances between your eyes, mouth, ears, nose, and different points on your face to produce a unique numerical code called a faceprint. This code is stored in the access control system’s database.
This also means that these systems do not keep a copy of your photographs, but only the data derived from your photographs.
Face recognition access devices are made out of specialized reader hardware. They have cameras that detect an individual’s face with special sensors that allow 3D depth analysis of a person’s facial features.
A database center where sensitive biometric data will be stored and protected is also needed when installing these devices. Installing a face recognition access control system requires you to create an uncompromisable link between your reader hardware at your object’s protected entrances to your data center. This can be a complex installation task that can be solved by controlling your biometric devices with Flexihub in five steps.
Facial recognition software is divided into 2 main types, namely 2D and 3D. This software is used increasingly today to create smart and safe spaces, may it be residential, commercial, or industrial properties.
Access control systems that use 2D facial recognition technology read the geometry of your face and convert it to code. Then, it will match this code with existing codes in its database to confirm your identity.
If the photo taken of your face is deemed identical to an existing photo in the database, you will be granted access.
Pros:
Cons:
This technology uses video data to create a 3D image of your face. It uses lasers and different types of face recognition scanners such as those with the capability to inspect different sources of light or illumination. Or, scanners with the ability to map out physical spaces and objects with photogrammetric technology.
This type of face recognition algorithm can process all types of information including the angle of your face while looking at the camera, your head size, and the shape of your face.
However, these systems may have a hard time identifying you if you’re not directly looking at the camera.
These systems measure your face down to the sub-millimeter and turn calculations into code.
Pros:
Cons:
The speed and accuracy at which it identifies people heavily rely on saved photos of people in the system’s database. It may also fail to recognize the minimal difference present in the physical profile of twins.
Some of the advantages of facial recognition access control systems include the following:
Unlike other access control systems that require pin codes or access cards, facial recognition access control systems won’t require you to physically touch reader devices when entering secured premises. This is most important in adapting to safety protocols given the emergence of a new coronavirus disease.
This is a better version of an electric security lock compared to outdated PIN and password smart locks. PINs and passwords are information that can easily be hijacked or stolen.
On the other hand, biometrics are nearly impossible to replicate or steal. Passwords and biometrics can be used in conjunction to create a more secure access system.
Even the best and most advanced technology comes with disadvantages. Here are some of them:
Having facial recognition access control systems installed in your home or business will cost more than using traditional keycard entry systems.
This software is controversial for a reason. They raise privacy concerns among many people. They can be beneficial when used solely for their intended purpose, which is security, but in some places, they’re used to carry out mass surveillance.
Facial recognition technology is relatively new. Despite being largely used in various industries today, it’s still pretty much under development and far from perfect. There are still some aspects of the development of such technology that needs to be carefully assessed, especially those concerning the public’s privacy and personal freedom.
