Biometric facial recognition systems have become incredibly sophisticated over the past several years, offering identity verification without requiring PIN numbers or cards for authentication.
DNA, fingerprint friction ridge patterns and iris texture are genetically determined; however, facial appearance isn’t. But by using other advanced biometric technologies alongside facial appearance authentication can create near unattended identification.
Fingerprints
Fingerprint recognition technology promises to bring hard-nosed objectivity into a field traditionally dependent upon witness testimony. Forensic fingerprint examiners are trained solely on facts of each case rather than trying to persuade juries.
First step to identifying a fingerprint involves assessing its shape and surface characteristics. Next, scientists divide fingerprints into patterns which are formed from lines and arches in loops and whorls; minutiae are details which add uniqueness to each print – such as number of ridges on loops/whorls or their relative sizes – that scientists use for identification.
NIST reports that facial recognition systems improved by 20 times from 2013 to 2018 alone! Juniper Research predicts that facial recognition hardware will be installed in over one billion mobile devices by 2024 for biometric authentication as well as enhanced digital security measures and seamless user experiences in smart homes and office environments.
Iris
Governments, private entities and individuals have amassed facial photographs as part of identity documents and membership cards for years now. Utilizing face recognition technology enables these digitized pictures to be used for identification, authentication and surveillance (for instance in healthcare environments).
Human faces provide the ideal biometric feature for recognition applications as it’s very unlikely someone could fake this characteristic. Furthermore, unlike tokens and passwords which can be borrowed or stolen, biometric features cannot be lent out or stolen and therefore repudiation becomes impossible.
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred widespread adoption of face recognition technologies combined with other biometrics for authenticating individuals trying to access sensitive areas and digital applications. As technology develops further, its usage will increase dramatically; MarketsandMarkets predicts that facial recognition technology market will reach $7 Billion by 2024 due to factors including security concerns as well as AI powered face recognition software being more widespread than ever before.
Facial Recognition
Face recognition technology has rapidly evolved as the fastest growing form of smartphone biometric hardware. It is utilized for unlocking and authentication apps such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Square Cash and Venmo; password management apps; as well as smart city surveillance cameras to detect anomalies like an out-of-place rubbish pile or bus shelter and alert authorities immediately.
Scanning of your retinal or fingerprints may feel less intrusive than other biometric technologies and is therefore easier for people to accept; however, retinal biometrics does have their own set of drawbacks which must be considered when making this choice.
Facial recognition systems often struggle to recognize people of color and may suffer from bias, leading to other concerns over its usage. Furthermore, some users fear this technology might be sold to oppressive foreign governments or corporations looking to build customer profiles – leading some states to pass privacy laws regarding facial recognition technology.
Biometric Security
Biometrics pose many security challenges despite its impressive accuracy, such as first responder ability to rapidly identify suspects during attacks to reduce response times and save lives; governments seek to enhance border crossings, combat terrorism and cybercrime, verify electoral votes and ensure interoperability as well as make it easier for citizens to use services like electronic banking or stadium entry while keeping costs under control and mitigating privacy risks.
Biometrics cannot easily be replaced if stolen, like passwords or credit card details can. Hackers can capture biometrics from databases or cameras and make them more susceptible to breaches than other forms of personal information. Furthermore, facial images can be altered through deepfakes while some methods can be less reliable depending on circumstances; nonetheless biometrics are expected to rise alongside other forms of security; 67% of IT professionals cited cost as the main barrier in adopting them according to a Spiceworks survey.
