National Geographic

X4T3 79RT A356``````Face-scanning technology is evolving rapidlyand is increasingly employed in high-securityfacilities such as airports and governmentRƅFHV1RZVRPHVWRUHVDUHHYHQXVLQJLWto identify returning customers or shoplifters.``````3HUVRQDOGHYLFHVSmartphones use facerecognition for appsand security, such asunlocking the phone.``````*HRPHWULFSpatial relationshipsbetween facial features,such as the center ofthe eyes and tip of thenose, are calculated.``````2WKHUFDPHUDVLaptop, video, andthermal cameras used insome security systemscan capture face images.``````&KHFNSRLQWFDPHUDVFaces are recorded atcustoms and securitycheckpoints, and theimages are archived.``````6NLQWH[WXUHDQDO\VLVPores, wrinkles, andspots are mapped andanalyzed; the technol-RJ\FDQHYHQGLƂHUHQWL-ate between twins.``````7KHUPDOVHQVRUVThis technology canprovide further informa-tion despite obstaclessuch as heavy makeupor disguises.``````&&79FDPHUDVSystems can isolate andtrack individuals byface, gait, and clothingcolor and pattern.``````3KRWRPHWULFAlgorithms can build aface even if an image isobscured by poor lightingor distorted by oddangles or expressions.``````)LQGLQJDIDFHSystems extractpatterns from animage and comparethem to a model of aface. When patternsstart to resemble themodel, the systemsignals it has homedin on a face.``````Face imagery captured when a personposes for the camera, such as atsecurity checkpoints, is easier toanalyze; imagery captured from CCTVcameras may require advancedmethods and detailed analysis.``````IdentityFRQƃUPHG``````&UHDWLQJDIDFHWHPSODWHAlgorithms buildmore informativeand accurate digitalrepresentations—called face templates—using thermal,geometric, and otherdata, either sepa-rately or combined.``````,GHQWLI\LQJDIDFHOnce a face tem-plate is created, itcan be comparedwith databases(such as for mugshots) to verify aperson’s identity orrecognize an individ-ual in CCTV footage.123JASON TREAT AND RYAN T. WILLIAMS, NGM STAFF.3+272ǖ326('02'(/Ǘ*(77<IMAGES. SOURCES: U.S.*29(510(17$&&2817ǑABILITY OFFICE; ANIL K. JAINAND DEBAYAN DEB, MICHIGAN``````FACESWATCHING