NEC Develops 3D Face Recognition Algorithm that Realizes World's Most Accurate Personal Identification System
Tokyo, Japan, Mar 22, 2004 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC has succeeded in the development of a novel 3D face recognition algorithm that realizes the world's most accurate personal identification system. The algorithm uses GIB (Geodesic Illumination Basis) descriptors (note 1) as registered data, which is calculated from 3D facial data, enabling optimal description of various pose and illumination changes. This results in superior identification accuracy essential to real world application of facial recognition technology.
The features of this technology, in comparison to NEC conventional models, are as follows:
(1) NEC has developed a matching method that identifies and highlights individual facial characteristics of 2D images and compares them with 3D and GIB facial data achieving 24 times better accuracy (note 2).
(2) Processing time of data comparisons between 2D and 3D facial images is trebled due to NEC's own IOF (Ideal Optical Flow) method (note 3).
(3) The new algorithm realizes the world's most accurate personal identification matching rate of 96.5%, even under very severe environmental conditions that cause changes in illumination and pose. (Tests were conducted using a database with registered 3D facial images of 1000 people.)
Conventional 2D facial image recognition technologies typically compare registered 2D facial image data with live 2D facial image data. This can lead to unstable matching results due to the deviation in environmental conditions (such as light and posture) when the images are captured. This has been a huge barrier to accurate personal identification to date. The new NEC 3D facial recognition algorithm, has not only solved this problem, but has also succeeded in achieving greater accuracy under severe environmental conditions.
Interest in biometrics is growing on a global scale due to increasing security concerns and unstable social conditions. NEC will continue further development of this new 3D facial recognition technology to realize more flexible and even more superior real world applications.
This achievement will be demonstrated at CEBIT in Hanover, Germany from March 18 to 24, 2004, and at the General Conference of The Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers, held at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan from March 22 to 25, 2004.
Notes:
(1) GIB (Geodesic Illumination Basis) descriptors describe differences in illumination on the skin.
(2) In 2000, NEC announced an accuracy matching rate of 96.1% out of a database of 42 registered people. 24 times better accuracy refers to tests (72,000 trials) carried out on a database of 1000 registered 3D images that obtained a 96.5% precision rate.
(3) IOF (Ideal Optical Flow) is a method to estimate the amount of movement between the registered 3D image and the live 2D image.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701)(NASDAQ: NIPNY)(FTSE: 6701q.l) is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of approximately $40 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2003. For further information, please visit the NEC Corporation home page at: www.nec.com
Contact:
Lindsey Brookes
NEC Europe Ltd
+44 20 8752 2795
lindsey.brookes@uk.neceur.com
Ralf Wolf
NEC Deutschland GmbH
+49 89 96 274 260
Ralf.Wolf@de.neceur.com
Diane Foley
NEC Corporation
+81 3 3798 6511
d-foley@ax.jp.nec.com
Mar 22, 2004
Source: NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l)
www.nec.com
From the Japan Corporate News Network
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Topic: Research and development
Sectors: Programming and Development, Multimedia , Security, Displays & Imaging
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