NEC Develops 3D Face Recognition

NEC has succeeded in the development of a novel 3D face recognition algorithm that realizes the world's most accurate personal identification system.

The algorithm uses GIB (Geodesic Illumination Basis) descriptors as registered data, which is calculated from 3D facial data, enabling optimal description of various pose and illumination changes.This results in superior identification accuracy essential to real world application of facial recognition technology.

The features of this technology, in comparison to NEC conventional models, are as follows:

Conventional 2D facial image recognition technologies typically compare registered 2D facial image data with live 2D facial image data. This can lead to unstable matching results due to the deviation in environmental conditions (such as light and posture) when the images are captured. This has been a huge barrier to accurate personal identification to date. The new NEC 3D facial recognition algorithm, has not only solved this problem, but has also succeeded in achieving greater accuracy under severe environmental conditions.

Interest in biometrics is growing on a global scale due to increasing security concerns and unstable social conditions. NEC will continue further development of this new 3D facial recognition technology to realize more flexible and even more superior real world applications.

This achievement will be demonstrated at CEBIT in Hanover, Germany from March 18 to 24, 2004, and at the General Conference of The Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers, held at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan from March 22 to 25, 2004.