What is Facial Recognition Technology?

Despite being popular in trendy sci-fi and action movies, facial recognition technology is also gaining popularity in the modern world for various purposes. It can be seen everywhere, from enhanced security and surveillance to innovative facial verification-based payment solutions. Vendors use it to learn more about their customers’ demographics and offer more relevant and personalized ads as per customer needs. 

Furthermore, facial recognition tech can also beneficial for the healthcare sector. It is used to diagnose depressed patients through facial expression analysis. Moreover, it helps to track and monitor patients suffering from chronic pain. Airport authorities take advantage of this technology to verify the identity and documents of passengers with precision. This article will clarify what facial is recognition technology, how it works, and its benefits.

Facial Recognition Technology: What is it?

Facial recognition is a well-structured approach for identifying a human face with the help of artificial intelligence algorithms that extract the facial features from the image. In the 1960s, Charles Bisson, Woody Bledsoe, and Helen Chan Wolf came up with a plan to develop a computer to identify human faces. The initial face recognition project was known as “man-machine” since the human analyzes the coordinates of the facial features present in the photograph before the computer processes it. With the advancement in technology, the face verification software has become so advanced that it precisely identifies photos that are not clear. It is also sensitive to changes in beard, mustache, glasses, or hairstyles. 

Facial Recognition Technology: How does it perform?

However, it is much easier for a human to identify a photograph. But, it’s difficult for technology to verify human face as it undergoes several steps. Artificial intelligence algorithms carefully inspects the factors like appearance, facial geometry, and light through a 2D image. Below are the four steps performed to recognize a human face.

Step 1: The face recognition software finds the face from the photograph.

Step 2: Now, facial features and photographic elements like grayscale or illumination are checked. 

Step 3: The facial features such as nose, eyes, and mouth are extracted through the algorithm to 

Step 4: Now the facial template is formed, the photograph is now matched with templates saved in the database. 

Facial Recognition Technology: Major Advantages

Facial recognition can be valuable for multiple industries. Let’s take a look at the advantages of facial recognition for various sectors.

• Identifying and tracking missing people
• Safeguards data-sensitive businesses from the risks of identity thefts
• Enhances medical diagnosis
• Reinforcing security and crime surveillance
• Ensuring seamless shopping through face recognition-based payment solutions
• Saving human labor, time, and additional costs

Conclusion – Facial recognition tech gaining traction

The facial biometric validation procedure is considered the most reliable method for identity verification. The biometric data is stored in the form of algorithms that examine the individual’s identity by matching it with other facial templates. It has become a challenge for fraudsters to deceive this system with cutting-edge liveness detection measures. It is evident that facial recognition will be the essential component of the technologies that will evolve in the future.