7 surprising ways facial recognition is used
Facial recognition can be a crime-fighting tool that law enforcement agencies can use to recognize people based on their eyes and face. MORIS (Mobile Offender Recognition and Information System) is a handheld biometric device that can be attached to a smartphone. The officer just has to snap an image and voila.
To help problem gamblers
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation recently installed facial recognition technology at its Rideau Carleton Raceway slots to help problem gamblers. The system merely matches the faces of folks playing the slots with self-proclaimed problem gamblers.
To greet hotel guests
Steve Ball, electronics company Zycomm engineer, says at least one hotel has bought a facial recognition system to recognize customers. That way, the concierge can remember customers' names and can greet them accordingly.
To find your soulmate
Who knew facial recognition could help you find the man or woman of your dreams? Matchmaking site FindYourFaceMate.com says people are attracted to people with similar facial features - it has made a business out of it. Look at your partner. Do you see a resemblance?
To take attendance
On a more fun note, The City of Ely Community College in the U.K. is using facial recognition to call roll of students. It has been reported that both students and teachers love the new system which scans faces with an infra-red light and matches them up with archived images.
To find underage drinkers
Underage drinkers can now be outed easily using facial recognition technology. In fact, a supermarket chain is using face recognition cameras to prevent staff from selling alcohol to minors. The system has customers' pictures stored in their database and alerts cashiers if it recognizes someone who has been unable to prove he or she is 18 before.
To catch identity thieves
States like New York are now using facial recognition to catch identity thieves and other criminals committing fraud. These tricksters typically try to get driver's licenses that don't belong to them and facial recognition can be a powerful tool to unmask imposters.
