What Are the Different Types of Facial Recognition Video Analytics, and Is It a Good Investment for Your Organization?

Facial recognition technology has gained significant attention in recent years for its potential in various fields, including security, law enforcement, and retail.

This form of biometric identification uses algorithms to analyze and match facial features from images or video footage. By capturing and analyzing unique facial characteristics, facial recognition can help identify individuals or track their movement within a given area.

Is facial recognition video analytics a good investment for your organization? Let’s look at the different types of facial recognition technology and how they work.

Cooperative vs. Non-Cooperative Access

Two important types of facial recognition video analytics are cooperative access and non-cooperative access.

Cooperative Access

Cooperative access refers to situations where individuals willingly participate in the facial recognition process [1]. For example, people may submit their photo or agree to have their face scanned for identification purposes.

This type of facial recognition is commonly used in access control systems, where employees or authorized personnel are granted access to secure areas by allowing their faces to be recognized and verified against a database of authorized individuals.

Non-Cooperative Access

Non-cooperative access involves identifying faces in real-time without the individual’s knowledge or cooperation. This type of facial recognition is used in surveillance systems or public spaces to monitor and track people for security purposes.

With non-cooperative access, organizations can identify individuals who may pose a threat or engage in suspicious activities without requiring their active participation.

Different Types of Facial Matching

In addition to these types of access, there are three methods of face matching that businesses commonly use to identify individuals.

1-to-1 Matching

1-to-1 matching involves comparing a captured face image with a previously stored image to verify a person’s identity. This method is often used for authentication purposes, such as unlocking a smartphone or accessing a secure system.

1-to-Many Matching

1-to-many matching requires comparing a captured face image against a large database of known individuals to find a potential match [2]. This method is valuable in scenarios where businesses need to identify individuals from a pool of possibilities, such as identifying suspects in a criminal investigation.

Many-to-Many Matching

Many-to-many matching involves comparing an anonymous face image with a database of known individuals to determine the potential identity of the person. This method is useful in situations where the captured image does not have any associated identity, such as identifying a person in a crowd during an event or tracking known individuals across multiple locations.

Considerations When Investing in Facial Recognition Technology

• Verify any restrictions on facial recognition technology in your jurisdiction. Although there are currently no federal laws governing its use, some states and local governments have regulations on the use of facial recognition analytics due to privacy concerns [3].
• Evaluate the technical requirements for the facial recognition system you’re considering. Optimal lighting and camera placement are essential for accurate face identification and matching. The quality of the camera and the ability to capture clear and distinct facial images play a vital role in the effectiveness of the technology.
• Understand your organization’s existing surveillance technology. Does your current system support facial recognition, or will you need to invest in new technology? Integrating facial recognition capabilities into existing surveillance systems may require additional hardware, software, and infrastructure investments.

Leverage the Power of Facial Recognition Analytics With Surveillance Secure

With facial recognition technology, businesses can streamline access control, improve security, and simplify investigations. Could facial recognition analytics benefit your organization? Contact Surveillance Secure today at (877) 388-1248 to explore your options for facial recognition technology.

Sources:

1. https://www.securityindustry.org/2023/03/27/facial-recognition-for-access-control-efficient-convenient-and-accurate/
2. https://www.csis.org/blogs/strategic-technologies-blog/how-accurate-are-facial-recognition-systems-and-why-does-it 
3. https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2024/01/advances-in-facial-recognition-technology-have-outpaced-laws-regulations-new-report-recommends-federal-government-take-action-on-privacy-equity-and-civil-liberties-concerns