Recently, security and protection of personal information have become matters of growing concern. Keys, cards and passwords are the most widely used means of dealing with these issues. But new technologies are also emerging, such as biometric authentication based on fingerprint or iris recognition. Interest in face recognition-based authentication systems that are more intuitive and less intrusive has been increasing greatly along with the growing demand for security and personal safety.

Here's an example of an access control system that uses the face as a means of authentication instead of a key. The system has already been perfected using OKAO Vision and is now being used for security control in offices, laboratories and healthcare facilities for the aged. Face recognition-based security systems are much more convenient than using a key, card or password, and you don't have to worry about forgetting to bring these things with you.

Access control system based on face recognition

Several development projects are now underway at OMRON with the goal of expanding the applications of its face recognition-based authentication to include fields other than access control. One project involves an onboard system for cars that can identify a driver and automatically adjust the seat and steering wheel positions to match that person. Also under development is a system that uses a camera built into a PC to recognize a person and prohibit access by non-authorized users. There is also a face recognition-based system under development for controlling a cellular phone's telephone directory and mail browsing. These convenient systems are expected to become essential tools for ordinary people in the not-too-distant future.

Owner PC identifies the authorized user.

The trend shift from still images to video continues to accelerate, with cellular phones that can record and play back video, and movies that you can watch on the Internet. In response to this trend, OMRON is working on new OKAO Vision technology that is capable of sensing video images.

Such a system would be able to detect the face of a person walking toward a door, for instance, then automatically unlock the door without requiring the person to stop in front of the door to create an image. Such a system could also notify family members that you have returned home even before you open the door.

Instant facial recognition of approaching people

There are many daily life situations in which video can be used even in non-security fields. OKAO Vision is well-suited for such applications because of its ability to be incorporated into various types of equipment. For example, OKAO Vision embedded into a digital video camera could isolate a single individual in a scene and maintain a continuous focus on that individual. When incorporated into a DVD recorder or HDD recorder, OKAO Vision could be used to register the face of your favorite actor, for instance. The recorder could then keep only those programs in which that actor appeared. Moving images require entirely different technologies than still image-based recognition.That's because a video usually consists of 30 frames of still images per second. Recognition with moving images requires scanning each individual frame to find the most direct-facing, easy-to-recognize image, then tracing it. This traced image is then used for recognition. OMRON's technology makes it possible to handle this complicated task at amazing speeds, even in less than a second. By strengthening its capability to handle moving images, OKAO Vision will be able to further expand the scope of its applications.

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