Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. has developed a low-cost, laser device that takes clear photos of people in pitch darkness for security purposes.
The technology, which uses laser-beam emitting diodes, can be used to record the faces of people who enter apartment and office buildings, the company said last week. The device takes a picture and compares that image with a database of people allowed to enter a building.
Conventional photo-based, face-recognition technology does not take good pictures in situations in which sun or artificial light creates dark shadows on a subject's face. Even if the problem is corrected by computer, it is still difficult to identify the person accurately.
Matsushita's technology uses a laser beam to create a picture, making it easier to recognize the face, even if the person is near a window or in a dimly lit room.
The company is planning to market the new system to firms that provide security at such high-access buildings as condominium complexes and offices for under 1 million yen to make it more competitive than similar products on the market.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.