Report on Visionics . . . Part 2.
The COMDEX winner was FaceIt PC, which costs $149, plus $200 for a camera (if one is not already at the PC), plus $100 for a PC card. It requires a pentium level computer with not unreasonable technical specs. The computer definitely needs a video capacity. Running the FaceIt program can make significant demands on the computer's CPU. This product has not had great sales -- "sporadic" -- according to the CEO. But it's new, and it's rated better than the competition. It's used in conjunction with a password(!). FaceIt recognizes the legitimate PC user, and blanks out the screen when the user is not present. If someone else tries to get on, it takes a picture and rats on him. (One reviewer noted that this system can be sidestepped by resetting the computer manually.) Its most likely use is in office cubicle situations. FaceIt PC encrypts data files by the face of the user; these files can be transferred from one FaceIt-enabled computer to another. Only the enrolled user can open them, just by showing his/her face. It runs on Windows 95. It cannot be fooled by photographs of a face or even by videos.
FaceIt DB (one to many searches): This product is in late beta testing and should be done by the end of the year. It appears that the National Institute of Justice has funded a pilot of 650 sheriff's offices in California and Nevada to test this. The cost of the DB product is about $25,000. It is less accurate than the simple one to one identification. It is used, I think, against a mug shot data base. Sounds like a $10 million plus contract.
FaceIt AC (access control): Cost is about $2,000 per door, commercially. Would be more expensive for prison use. Apparently in use at NSA (more CIA than the CIA) and the US Army Research Lab. No sign of commercial or prison use yet.
INS application: On the Mexican border, persons who are frequent travellers enroll and are given a radiofrequency tag for their vehicle. They go through the border on an express lane after FaceIt confirms their identity. If they flunk the ID check, they are routed to an inspector. FaceIt can handle all types of vehicles, but it seems the persons scanned must look in the direction of the camera.
Airport applications: Passengers are enrolled and given a smart card for boarding and baggage use. FaceIt has an advantage over finger or palm prints for persons who are already using their hands to carry baggage.
General security monitoring and surveillance: FaceIt can pick up multiple faces in one shot and recognize them against a database. It can focus in on one person and track the person. (Possible use in future pro sports replays). Has obvious security advantages over interactive biometrics in certain situations.
ATM applications: Relatively inexpensive in ATM's, since video camera already present. May have security advantages over interactive biometrics re: lurking predators in the vicinity. In this application, may be a bit slow to confirm identity if the population base being used is large. (I don't expect this necessarily to be an issue, since chip speed can increase while the FaceIt technology picks up enrollees.)
End of Part 2. |
