The Face Recognition Company - Experts & Thought Leaders

The opportunity for criminals to take advantage of COVID-19 face covering requirements presents a security challenge for commercial premises. The Face Recognition Company (FRC) is addressing that challenge with the addition of a new “unmasking” capability to its multi-camera face-recognition security system. Designed for a wide range of commercial environments, from retail outlets and hospitals to sports arenas and hotels, the FRC system identifies and alerts about individuals on a watchlist – suspected shoplifters, for example. Optimised for ease-of-use by anyone from site managers to security staff, all alerting and management features are delivered via a simple mobile app. Identify individuals with partial information The latest system upgrade enables the system to process partial information – taking visible information and other data from partially obscured features – to identify an individual. The new functionality does not require any changes to how users operate the system, which is now able to identify persons of interest from previous visitor data, whether they are wearing a mask or not. “Face coverings are now likely to be part of our normal daily life for a long time to come – even after mandatory restrictions are lifted,” said Tim Noest, CEO, FRC. “Just a few months ago, a person entering a store with their face covered would have raised suspicion. Today, it’s the norm, and this presents real challenges from a security perspective. This new capability allows our system to identify the person behind the mask and help security staff operate more effectively in this new normal.” Very large datasets The technical work required to address the challenge of partially obscured face recognition pre-dates the COVID-19 outbreak, and has been performed using very large datasets from wide ranges of real-world cases in challenging environments. The upgrade ensures virtually the same level of accuracy as the current system, which is based on identifying unmasked individuals. “In addition to this new functionality, we are also extending the capability of our system to alert security staff when people enter environments when not wearing a face covering,” added Noest. “Wearing a mask is now compulsory in many retail and public transport environments across the world, and we are providing businesses with an extra pair of eyes when it comes to ensuring that customers are following the rules.”

The Face Recognition Company (FRC) has announced that its multi-camera face-recognition security product is to be unveiled for the first time at the International Security Expo in London. The company, which has been in stealth mode for three years, has developed the world’s first ultra-accurate facial recognition security system, optimised for commercial businesses. Available in January 2020, its first product is designed to provide enhanced security for retail and commercial premises or similar environments. The system can be installed at entrances to identify and alert about shoplifters on a watchlist, for example. Multi-camera facial recognition security system Incorporating multiple cameras, machine-learning algorithms and a user-friendly mobile app for providing alerts  Incorporating multiple cameras, machine-learning algorithms and a user-friendly mobile app for providing alerts and managing watchlists, the system is designed for ease-of-use by anyone from store management to security staff. In real-time, it detects unwelcome visitors by recognising faces that have been flagged previously, before alerting security or management via the app. Current facial recognition systems typically access CCTV feeds, and are frequently complex, bespoke installations focussed on national security, policing and big transportation infrastructure. Facial recognition algorithms “Today’s facial recognition algorithms are very accurate but can only be effective when they have an image of suitable quality and perspective,” said Tim Noest, CEO, The Face Recognition Company. He adds, “Grainy CCTV images or faces captured beyond a certain angle from the front view reduce the accuracy significantly. With our multi-view system, we are focused exclusively on capturing high-quality facial data, greatly increasing the chances of making a positive match.” The FRC system comprises three components: Cameras - FRC has developed a patent-pending multi-camera technology. A typical setup incorporates five high-resolution cameras trained on one capture zone – a doorway entry into a retail store, for example. Mobile app - Users control and interact with the system via a simple app. Managers with appropriate security approvals have full system control and can set up and manage watchlists. Store staff and security can receive and respond to alerts, but have no access to watchlists. Back-end server - The local server runs the image data processing and machine learning in the background. Users don’t interact with the server beyond the initial setup phase. The FRC system is not designed to be a replacement for existing security infrastructure and processes such as CCTV guards. It is designed to augment security operations to run more effectively and efficiently.