Facial recognition cameras promise less crime, easier shopping

By Dick Pelletier

     In the TV show Las Vegas, video surveillance cameras spot a card counter, thief or blacklisted person and immediately scan a database to confirm identification. By the end of the program, all the bad guys are escorted from the casino or thrown in jail.

     Facial recognition technology is advancing at exponential speeds. Every human face has landmarks called nodal points which include distance between the eyes, length and width of nose, cheekbone shape, jaw line, and depth of eye sockets. These points create a unique 3D “faceprint”.

     In the past, primary users of facial recognition have been law enforcement to capture random faces in crowds. Government agencies have also used the systems for security and to eliminate voter fraud; and the U.S. recently began a program called US-VISIT, aimed at separating terrorists and criminals from legitimate foreign travelers who want to enter the country.

     However, there are other situations where facial recognition systems are in demand. These include ATMs, check-cashing firms, and automated checkout systems. Retail giants Wall-Mart, Target, Costco, Kroger, Safeway, and others are rushing to develop facial recognition ID systems that will create a more enjoyable buying experience for customers.

     In the next decade, you will enter the supermarket, grab an electronic cart that recognizes your face, toss in some bags and begin shopping. The monitor on your “smart cart” displays selected products, price, and total spent. As you wind through the aisles, the “cart” recognizes things you’re running low on, and offers special discounts just for you. When finished, you select a payment option on the cart handle – credit, debit, or cash to deposit in a nearby machine – and walk out the door.

     Though this may sound like a scene from a sci-fi movie, Albertson’s Chicago and Dallas stores are experimenting with Shop ‘n Scan, a wireless scanner shoppers use to ring up groceries as they take them off the shelf, which could be a precursor to the scenario described above.

     For as long as people have roamed beyond family and home, they have experienced the need to establish their identity. Today, identity is perhaps our most valued asset; and the way we recognize each other is undergoing huge transformations. The fast-changing world of the Internet and global travel demands better ways to show other people that we are who we say we are.

     We will soon be replacing the hodgepodge of checks, credit cards and PIN numbers with systems that identify us easier and more accurately. Facial recognition systems promise to make us more secure and will eliminate much of today’s identity theft.

     But privacy mavens express concern over abuse by overaggressive police, eager marketers, and corrupt politicians. However, University of California researchers are developing a solution that will minimize the invasiveness of video cameras. Their invention, called the “respectful camera,” hides faces with an oval that can only be removed by officials during a criminal investigation.

     Although controversy may surround facial recognition cameras, the scales are tipped in favor of putting citizen’s safety and convenience first. This writer feels confident that as our “magical future” unfolds, technology will come up with even more solutions to minimize abuse of this futuristic system.

This article appeared in various print publications and on-line blogs. Comments always welcome.