Face recognition

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Face Recognition is a technology that allows a computer to identify a person by their facial features. It utilizes biometrics and algorithms to identify and process an individual facial feature.[1]. The data collected is cross-referenced with a database of faces to identify each individual. Companies like Snapchat, Apple, and Amazon have adopted the use of facial recognition in order to augment users' experiences.

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History

In the 1960s, Woodrow Wilson Bledsoe used a manual device called RAND to measure facial features like mouth, nose, eyes, hairline as well as others. The system would record the coordinates of these features and input them into a database. When the system was given a new image the database was able to retrieve the image with the most similar metrics. At the time, the system was extremely limited by the manual work required and the processing power of computers. [2] In the 1970s, Goldstein, Harmon, and Lesk were able to improve on the Bledsoe facial recognition system by adding 21 specific features. The measurements still needed to be taken by hand but their efforts improved the accuracy of the system.[3] In 1988, Sirovich and Kirby used linear algebra to improve upon the system and began effort toward what became the Eigenface approach. Later in 1991, Turk and Pentland, improved this approach through the development of a system that was able to recognize faces in images. This advancement was the beginning of what became automatic facial recognition. DARPA, otherwise known as The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology began the FERET project, Face Recognition Technology, to encourage the use of commercial facial recognition and innovation in the facial recognition field. A database of 2,413 still facial images representing 856 people was created as a part of the project, which included high-resolution 24-bit color images. [4]

Progress

In recent years, facial recognition technology has improved. It is being used equally in different fields, most notably security. Recent developments have even made systems that can recognize differences in identical twins. The 2002 Face Recognition Vendor Test shows that the technology of face recognition capabilities is increasing rapidly. The rate of error in facial recognition has gone down 50%[5] according to this test.

FRVT 2002

The Face Recognition Vendor Test of 2002 is a test that inspected the accuracy of facial recognition and explored areas for future development. The FRVT 2002 tested each face recognition system on its ability to identify correctly, verify the right individual, and "watch-list screening." Watch-list-screening is the process of facial recognition software identifying a particular individual and who that individual is. The test resulted in an 85% identification rate, 96% verification rate, and a 77% detection rate for the top few facial recognition systems.[6]

3D recognition systems

Face recognition technology is gaining popularity, and new features and capabilities are surfacing to improve the accuracy of recognition systems. One particular feature was developed by the Bronstein brothers. Michael and Alexander Bronstein are electrical engineering graduate students and identical twins. As identical twins, they were always being mistaken for one another. Facial recognition software could not tell them apart, so their information was not safe. They created new facial recognition features that utilizes 3D technology to solve the identical twin problem.[7] This feature enhances the software because it maps specific features to the face instead of processing the face as a single image.[7] The technology is resistant to the effects of lighting and makeup in recognizing faces.

Major Uses

Facial recognition has proven to be a very useful technology. Being able to access an individual's face has changed the way businesses and institutions handle everyday security concerns.

Facebook

The most prominent form of face recognition that people see is on social media. A research group at Facebook developed DeepFace, a facial recognition algorithm using machine learning, to identify faces with 97% accuracy.[8] Facebook has implemented this software to automatically tag a user's friend in their photos using face recognition software. [9]

Snapchat

Snapchat uses facial recognition in order to allow users to add filters to their Snapchat photos. The app recognizes a face, and then users can add a dog filter, flower crown, or glasses to their photo.

Dating

Some dating websites also use facial recognition technology to match people based on facial feature preferences. [9] For example, the app "Dating.ai" allows the user to upload a photo of someone that they would like to date, and using facial recognition technology, it would match the user with another user that has similar facial features. [10]

Crime

Law enforcement uses face detection to track down criminals, improving the crime rate.[9] The US Department of State manages a facial recognition database with over 117 million Americans that the FBI uses to aid investigative efforts. The database contains mostly photos from state-issued licenses and IDs. [11]

iPhone X

Today, facial recognition is integrated into the new iPhone X. The iPhone X uses Face Id, a technology that detects a user's face when looking at the phone and unlocking the device if the face is identified as the users. While scanning one's face, the iPhone uses infrared and visible light scans to identify one's face. These biometric authentication security measures are uniquely designed for the iPhone owner. This feature on the iPhone X relies on many unique facial features such as lighting conditions and accessories to enhance the user experience. The user must look at the phone attentively in order for the facial recognition technology to work. Apple claims that their Face Id technology is secure and that there is a 1 in a 1,000,000 chances that another face will match as another user. [12]

Types of Facial Recognition

There are many different ways that Facial Recognition has made itself a prominent and rising technology in our society.

Benefits

  • Increased Security - Facial recognition is mostly used for security purposes. Most business have adapted this technology to add more security to their confidential data and files. [13]
  • Business - Facial recognition is also be used in marketing. The software can determine attributes such as gender, age, and ethnicity. Retailers use this information for targeted advertising.[13]
  • Airport Security - In the near future, airports may be adding facial recognition to their security systems. This would streamline the security process at airports, making travel more efficient and safe.[13]
  • Event Feedback Research - Facial recognition technology allows for better understanding human's facial expressions which in turn can be used to figure out what a particular person is thinking at that particular moment. [14]
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Ethical Concerns

As facial recognition technology has improved, more users have developed opinions on the nature of the technology.

Security

While facial recognition technology aids security measures, many individuals fear that it is an invasion of privacy. People fear false positives, meaning the facial recognition system could wrongly identify an individual [15]. This would have many repercussions including: allowing them access to someone else's private information and/or falsely accuse someone of a crime they did not commit.

Identity

There are a plethora of issues related to what a person should look like and how the biases of programmers who create the IA for these technologies can be included in facial recognition software. Many individuals have plural selves or multiple identities.[16] Yet, facial recognition software only allows for one identity to be recognized and allowed access to the information it is protecting. For people who have multiple identities, they will only have access to certain information, regarding themselves, when they choose to identify a certain way. This raises many ethical dilemmas about who has the right to this information and why only certain individual's identities should be allowed to access their protected information.

Power

The abuse of power with this new technology is a large ethical concern. For example, a parent or spouse could track their child or significant other without their knowledge. This again addresses the issue of privacy invasion.[17] A parent may also program their facial recognition into their child's phone without them knowing, allowing the parent to have unauthorized complete access to all information on the device.

References

  1. “Biometrics Expert Delivers Lecture on Facial Recognition.” RAND Corporation, www.rand.org/natsec_area/products/facialrecog.html.
  2. https://www.facefirst.com/blog/brief-history-of-face-recognition-software
  3. https://www.facefirst.com/blog/brief-history-of-face-recognition-software
  4. https://www.facefirst.com/blog/brief-history-of-face-recognition-software
  5. D. Voth, "Face recognition technology,"IEEE Intelligent Systems, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 4-7, May-Jun 2003.
  6. Flanagan, Patricia A. “Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) 2002.” NIST, 25 Aug. 2016, www.nist.gov/itl/iad/image-group/face-recognition-vendor-test-frvt-2002.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Bronstein, Alexander, et al. “Three Dimensional Face Recognition.” Numerical Geometry of Non-Rigid Shapes Monographs in Computer Science, 2008, pp. 261–275., doi:10.1007/978-0-387-73301-2_13.
  8. Russell Brandom (July 7, 2014), "Why Facebook is beating the FBI at facial recognition", The Verge
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 “Top 8 Ways Facial Recognition Software Is Being Used Today.” Tech Guru, LLC, 14 July 2015, www.techguruit.com/top-8-ways-facial-recognition-software-used-today/
  10. https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2017/06/23/dating-app-boss-sees-no-problem-on-face-matching-without-consent/
  11. "Here's How Many Adult Faces Are Scanned From Facial Recognition Databases" Fortune, 18 October 2016. http://fortune.com/2016/10/18/facial-recognition-database/
  12. Fleishman, Glenn. “Face ID on the IPhone X: Everything You Need to Know about Apple's Facial Recognition.” Macworld, Macworld, 25 Dec. 2017, www.macworld.com/article/3225406/iphone-ipad/face-id-iphone-x-faq.html.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 “Face Recognition Is Transforming the Security Industry.” Kairos, 31 Aug. 2017, www.kairos.com/blog/face-recognition-and-the-future-of-security.
  14. https://blog.capterra.com/3-major-benefits-of-facial-recognition-technology-for-event-planners/
  15. “False-Positive.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/false-positive.
  16. Cocking, Dean. (2008). “Plural Selves and Relational Identity: Intimacy and Privacy Online,” in Information Technology and Moral Philosophy, edited by Jeroen Van Den Hoven and John Weckert. Cambridge University Press, pp. 123-41.
  17. K.W. Bower. "Face recognition technology: security versus privacy" IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 9-19, Spring 2004