Today, innovation has allowed great transformations in a large number of industries. In fact, technology has completely altered the way we live. Everyday tasks are getting faster, easier, and less time-consuming. With so many new tools coming out frequently, it’s hard to keep up. One of such tools is facial recognition. This is both complex and widely used today. It’s being used by law enforcement agencies, and places like airports. However, facial recognition is also being criticized for its racial bias.
Here’s all you need to know about this tool
What Is Facial Recognition?
Facial recognition is not a new tool anymore. In fact, it’s being used by a large number of people today. With greater access to innovation with deals like Spectrum silver package, facial recognition tools are being recognized by many internet users. Several smartphones have similar technology that is used for identification. As a result, the concept of facial recognition has been widely accepted by many people all over the world. However, many are still unaware of how it works.
This technology makes use of filters generated by computers. This is used to change face images to quantitative expressions. Then, these are compared for any parallels. However, facial recognition tools are being widely discussed all over the globe by all kinds of groups and individuals. This is because they’re not only relevant to technology, but also the socio-political climate.
It’s Affected by the Data It’s Trained On
The data that is trained with facial recognition technology has a massive impact on its functionality and efficiency. However, this aspect of this tool is beginning to come under fire. This is because the data it’s trained with can develop biases and prejudices. Thus, a large number of people argue that as a result of this, its results are unethical and ineffective. To counter this, developers of this tool are encouraged to ensure ethical practices. Such practices include transparency and bias detection.
Facial Recognition Tools Go Beyond Human Recognition
A large number of people don’t realize that facial recognition tools have a wide variety of functions. This means that they aren’t just limited to human recognition. They can even detect objects by assessing similarities. As a result, facial recognition usage significantly increases in versatility and range. The algorithms used by these tools are able to categorize and recognize objects like vehicles, buildings, and any objects you can name.
It Can Enhance Customer Experience
One of the greatest advantages of facial recognition technology is that it can significantly increase the quality of your customer experience. Facial recognition tools typically achieve this by providing customers with additional security. As a result, experiences related to browsing and e-commerce become easier, more flexible, and convenient.
However, despite its wide usage in this area, facial recognition technology is restricted to legal bounds. A large number of brands and corporations are only allowed so much leverage when it comes to this technology. This means that they can’t fully take advantage of what it has to offer. However, legal policies and regulations for facial recognition use are seen as a positive move. This is because they can infringe upon data privacy and cybersecurity if used in the wrong way. As a result, there are several data protection laws that apply to this technology and several others like it.
It’s Beginning to Get Controversial
Facial recognition technology has a wide range of advantages and features that allow streamlining, convenience, and flexibility. However, this tool is beginning to come under fire for promoting racial bias and prejudice against ethnic minorities. Recently, a large number of important states in the US banned the use of facial recognition technology because of growing protests against its use. Several advocates of the facial recognition ban believe that it leads to unjust arrests and allows racial profiling and stereotyping. Police officials and law regulators are now being discouraged from using this technology to reduce the chances of any bias or prejudice.
In addition to this, facial recognition tools are also threatening data security and privacy. When used by organizations and companies, they can attack digital rights and lead to reduced privacy and safety. Apart from this, this tech makes it easier for your information to be accessed by any stranger.
Most Popular Facial Recognition Tech
In the current world, there are a large number of companies trying to get ahead of the game in terms of facial recognition technology. Today, companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft are part of this race. Here is the top facial recognition tech used by software giants.
Facebook’s DeepFace
A few years ago, Facebook came out with the DeepFace program. This tool led to great innovation that helped develop facial recognition as an important instrument. Facebook’s new program could help in identifying various images and could tell if the digital faces belonged to the same person or not. This program was especially important because it had an accuracy rate that was close to 100%. As a result, chances of deviation were less likely.
Google’s FaceNe
A year later, Google came out with FaceNet, an app similar to DeepFace but more advanced. This new tool had an accuracy rate that was even higher than Facebook’s program. Such results promised greater progress, utility, and convenience.
If you’re a user of Google Photos, you’ll notice that this technology is also used there. It helps users identify people by categorizing them by face and frequency. In fact, Google Photos will also show you individual faces of various people that are in your phone’s photo gallery. As a result, you just need to click on this and you’ll get all the pictures you have of that particular person.
In addition to this, there’s also an open-source version of this called OpenFace. However, this is unofficial and thus, less popular.
While facial recognition has several advantages, its use should be monitored to maintain data security and privacy.
