Technically speaking, facial recognition is defined as a computer application for automatically identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source. This technology is making its course across the nation. Every where you turn, this technology is appearing.
How does this facial recognition software work, anyways? A face is to be recognized through the use of an image or video clip. Through the use of nodal points, end points that are used to measure variables on a person's face, this software is able to recognize individuals. The human has about eighty nodal points. These variables consist of the width of the nose, depth of the eye sockets, shape of the cheek bones among others. These indicators allow the software to recognize the face that is being photographed.
Once the individual is recognized, many actions can take place. Some use this software to gain access to your interests for marketing plots. Others may use it to hack a system enabling them to get your social security number. This points will be discussed more in depth in a future blog, so don't get too excited!
This software is causing an uprising by those who are concerned with their privacy. Will this advanced software be able to recognize you?
Sources: Facial Recognition
This is a really cool thought. Has anyone ever watched the show Las Vegas? Anyway, if you have you might have seen the episode where Ed Deline (Casino Manager) uses facial recognition to lock and unlock the casino vault where all of their money is held. This episode came on television a couple of days ago and I looked up when the episode aired. It aired in 2004. I know it is a TV show and that we didn't quite have the technology for this 10 years ago. But it is pretty cool to think that this was being talked about 10 years ago, and today the technology is finally here.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen the show Las Vegas, but it is funny how the entertainment industry uses different biometric methods to provide entertainment. You brought up a great point, maybe we should look at the examples of biometrics we see in movies, not as entertainment, but as possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI have seen articles on facial recognition being successfully used as far back as 2001 at Super Bowl XXXV. Authorities used facial recognition to scan peoples faces as they walked into the stadium to identify criminals.
It has certainly come a long way since then. As the accuracy rate of facial recognition software improves, so will the publicity it gets.
Dang! Can you imagine getting nabbed walking into the SuperBowl because you had an outstanding warrant? I guess I should have paid all those parking tickets... At least they have cable in jail - you wouldn't have to miss the game!
DeleteThey have cable in jail? I had no idea. Facial Recognition has been around for quite some time, but I think it's just now getting recognition. Within the next couple of years, it will become a bigger part of lives. Scary…
ReplyDelete- Facial Recognition UNCC
As scary as the thought of facial recognition is, there are many applications where it can be used for the greater good. Nobody likes the idea of knowing that their pictures are being taken at any moment but the cameras are able to identify criminals and terrorists, potentially preventing a crime from occurring in the first place.
ReplyDeleteMy brother has an Xbox and the Kinect uses facial recognition to sign him into his account. We thought it was really cool at first but now I hear the new Xbox one is turning into another big brother device. Games are specified to the device. If you rent a movie through Xbox and the Kinect senses more than a specified number of people (I think it is 8), they will charge you for two movies.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting to know. I guess the solution to this problem is to make sure there are only seven people in the room when you are purchasing the movie.
DeleteSpeaking of Big Brother...Facebook has a facial recognition feature that can detect friends just from pictures. I thought it was just a convenient way to tag people, but really it's a bit scary that this technology is out there. I remember watching Minority Report, with Tom Cruise from a few years ago. Throughout the whole movie images of citizens being scanned everywhere for advertising purposes and for law enforcement are displayed. What was a very futuristic movie, now doesn't seem so bazaar.
ReplyDeleteFacial recognition actually first appeared on Facebook in 2011, was discontinued in 2012 to make some technical improvements, and reimplemented in 2013. Have you had any incidents with Facebook's facial recognition technology?
DeleteI know a few years ago, I was tagged in a photo, and it looked nothing like me. I had no clue why, I just thought someone made a mistake. It wasn't until much later that I realized what exactly had happened.
I think facial recognition software once it's made accurate and reliable enough could be a great tool for use as a security measure. You know like in those movies with the futuristic high-tech access labs and stuff? Of course you'd have to code for things like telling the difference between a live face and a photo, but I don't doubt that there are people out there who can make it happen.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post...it reminds me of the movie Minority Report except in the movie, advertisement boards would scan retinas to focus ads. I think its too early to predict which technology will prevail in the advertising world. Facial recognition can currently be fooled by just changing the angle at which a person is facing a camera. Also, what if someone wore a fake nose or mask? Can current facial recognition technology tell a difference? I believe Facebook is still perfecting this technology but soon enough it will be here!
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