Facial Recognition Technology

One of the most interesting facets of technology is relatively new to many. This area is known as facial recognition technology. While facial recognition technology is not new, it is new to some and has not been fully developed. However, facial recognition technology is used in everyday life even by people who do not know they are using it. For example, facial recognition technology is used in digital cameras. Use in a digital camera, however, is not representative of the most important use of this technology. This technology is also used for security purposes in certain cellular phones and computers. The ramifications of facial recognition technology are far reaching and have the potential to change everyday life in a significant way.

Three-dimensional modeling and the ability to identify a person even if they have aged considerably since their information was initially introduced to the system are two important innovations that researchers have added to facial recognition technology. Texture analysis is another important step forward for this technology. These improvements have come about in the past eight years or so and demonstrate that many of the problems that plagued facial recognition technology early on. These problems were demonstrated in early tests and consisted of poor performance on the part of the technology. Concerns have also been raised about the technology falsely identifying a person. Such issues have been discussed thoroughly and are commonly referenced by opponents of facial recognition technology. However, the advantages of this technology outweigh any of the problems.

Facial recognition technology is a contribution brought to the technology world by Pixar. This company sought to sell their technology for security purposes. Instead, it has been used in the entertainment world where it has helped Pixar earn twenty-one academy awards. Pixar has had great success with this technology in the entertainment industry and it is obvious to any keen observer that facial recognition technology will soon be applied in other industries.

Security is not the only other application for facial recognition technology. The inclusion of this technology in security cameras is only the beginning. ATM machines are a possible area where facial recognition technology to be applied. Facial recognition technology may also be useful in confirming that a person is allowed to use a credit card before a transaction is completed. Some still deny that these applications for facial recognition technology are possible. Such denial is unfounded. We can see that such denial of technological progression is not new. In fact, many dismissed the idea of computers. At the time, computers were massive in their physical size and were unable to handle complicated jobs. Instead, their jobs were simple ones. However, by looking at what has been accomplished in the area of computers, we can see that these critics were wrong.