UK biometrics specialist Neurodynamics has launched what it claims
is the world's first true 3D facial recognition system.
If talks with the police and port of entry authorities go according
to plan, the system could soon be installed in airports, ferry
ports, football stadiums and shopping centres.
Tridentity has taken five years to develop and uses a standard CCTV
camera and a projector unit linked to a PC.
"The great thing about facial recognition is it's totally
unobtrusive," said David Elias, senior systems consultant at
Neurodynamics. "The person doesn't have to be aware they're being
looked at. We're used to CCTV and having our photo taken, which
makes facial recognition relatively easy to accept."
Biometrics has long been touted as a solution to security issues.
Fingerprint recognition has never taken off, partly because of the
public's reluctance to having prints taken, while iris scanning has
also met with user resistance.
The new solution is being sold as an electronic security guard.
"The problem with security guards is that they're awake for the
first five minutes of their shift and then they'll let anybody in,"
Elias said.
Neurodynamics currently has one user signed up for Tridentity. The
Cambridge software house, plans to use it for door entry security.
Staff will have their photos taken with a camera and the system
will use this image to generate 3D models of their faces.
When members of staff walk past the camera, Tridentity then
searches its database for a match before granting access to the
building.
An entry-level system costs £5,000.
Emma Nash