Facial recognition software is one of the many amazing advancements in modern computer science and technology. Since it first emerged on the scene in 1993, it has become widely available for companies and users across various industries around the globe.
This article will look at why face recognition software first came to fruition with the demands behind it and how it has evolved and is now used across society today.
Birthplace of facial recognition
Improving the operations of security intelligence and law enforcement is always up for discussion and open for new methods to keep civilians safe.
A big advancement was put forward in 1993 with the introduction of face recognition software. In 1993, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) and the ARL (Army Research Laboratory) worked together to come up with a program that would help improve their process of identifying persons of interest far more efficiently than previously possible.
They soon established the face recognition technology program to develop functioning software that were fit for purpose being integrated into law enforcement and security intelligence operations. Once this has been created, it would hugely outdate previous methods used to identify individuals of interest.
Important factors for accurate software
The articulation of an algorithm to carry out this task is very complex, and there are several key factors that contribute to how facial recognition software can identify an individual just from scanning their face, even if their appearance has changed slightly (e.g. male with and without a beard). These include:
- Contour of the lips, ears, and chin
- Distance between your eyes
- Distance from forehead to chin
- Shape of the cheekbones
- Depth of the eye sockets
You cannot simply zoom in with the camera and perform iris detection, which is a whole separate form of biometric identification. This is why each of these biological landmarks of the face play a crucial role in distinguishing an individual.
Applications
Face recognition online software is no longer just used in law enforcement and security control, as big an industry as it might be. It is now seen within various industries courtesy of companies across the globe developing genius algorithms, such as Skybiometry. Applications include:
- Time attendance monitoring for both remote & on-premise workplaces
- Online profile verification
- Advertising campaigns
- Organizing photo databases
We look forward to seeing how facial recognition technology continues to advance and which industries it will play a pivotal role in next!
