An Overview of Biometric Face Recognition and Video Identifying Technologies by Alice Osborn
Biometric face recognition technologies are a new and evolving measure that governments and firms use to identify criminals and protect innocent people. However, the makers of this biometric face technology must contend with the inevitable ethical issues: what if the wrong person is identified... Some of these concerns have kept face recognition products from reaching their full potential, but these concerns will fall by the wayside when governments and firms acknowledge that face recognition technology is the best passive and non-intrusive recognition technology available.

Biometrics - Customer Friendly Computer Security by Rick Parrott
I don’t know about you, but I hate passwords. I hate changing them, because I never can think of what I want to use! Isn’t there a better way? Actually there is. It’s called biometrics. Biometrics is a method of authentication that uses something you are to allow access to the computer network. ... Face recognition • Passive recognition method, doesn’t need the person’s active participation. ... Fingerprint recognition • Used for matching and verification. ... Signature recognition • Analysis of a person’s written signature to grant access.

How Biometric Technology is Used in Video Surveillance by Alice Osborn
As the recent July 7th London bombings would reveal, biometric technology images from over 200,000 video surveillance cameras are key weapons against the terrorists. What makes these biometric cameras so extraordinary is that these cameras have a 360-spherical lens, called a fisheye, to follow... Its ActiveFusion surveillance technology blends 3-D face, 2-D face, and fingerprint biometrics to claim submillimeter accuracy. ... How to evaluate these biometric solutions Although evaluation techniques for biometric solutions are not standardized, research enterprises and commercial firms are...

The Future of Biometrics -- Trends and Emerging Uses for Biometric Technology by Alice Osborn
The future of biometrics holds great promise for law enforcement applications, as well for private industry uses. By measuring facial geometry, surveillance systems can identify suspects against characteristics stored in the security system's database. ... Today, A4Vision uses a 3-D infrared facial recognition system to project subdued light onto a subject's face for optimal identification. ... In the future, biometric technology will further develop 3-D infrared facial recognition access control, real-time facial recognition passive surveillance, and visitor management authentication...

All-seeing Eye: The History of Video Surveillance by Nahshon Roberts
There are eyes everywhere, and they do not belong to humans. In today's fast-paced modern world, video surveillance has become as essential to society as security guards and gateways. Mention video surveillance and the average Joe will instantly associate the term with video cameras mounted in... In December 2003, the Royal Palm Middle School in Phoenix, Arizona installed face recognition video surveillance. ... In May 2002, facial recognition software was installed on the computer video surveillance cameras at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Biometrics History -- Looking at Biometric Technologies from Past to Present by Alice Osborn
The ancient Egyptians and the Chinese played a large role in biometrics' history. Although biometric technology seems to belong in the twenty-first century, the history of biometrics goes back thousands of years. Today, the focus is on using biometric face recognition and identifying... • July 7th, 2005 London, England -- British law enforcement is using biometric face recognition technologies and 360-degree "fish-eye" video cameras to ID terrorists after four bombings on subways and on a double-decker bus.

How Security Camera Systems Work by Derek Hanksworth
Security camera systems work via closed-circuit television (CCTV). This CCTV differs from broadcast television because all of the components of the cameras and televisions are linked with cables or alternate direct means. CCTV can be viewed in real-time, and there is no need to broadcast a signal. ... Cameras can also have the potential ability to have facial recognition. ... Current CCTV technology being developed in the UK and the US aims at creating a computerized monitoring system that would allow security guards and CCTV operators to not have to look at all of the screens.

DVR Surveillance by Max Bellamy
One area that DVR technology has gained wide acceptance in is surveillance and monitoring. DVR based surveillance systems can be used in businesses and homes where monitoring is needed ensure safety. By hooking up with a PC, this technology allows you to constantly monitor a particular area from... This makes recognition of faces or movements easier. ... The essential components of a typical DVR surveillance system include motion sensors, multiplexer, image zoom controls; color quad processor and CCTV camera connections.

The History of Video Surveillance – from VCRs to Eyes in the Sky by Lucy P. Roberts
Mention video surveillance and most people think of video cameras mounted in the corners of train stations and banks or private detectives video taping an erring spouse for a messy divorce case. The truth is that the history of video surveillance is much more complex and goes back much farther... In May of 2002, the United States Parks Service installed face recognition software on the computer video surveillance cameras at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. ... Police officers and federal agents may eventually be issued phones with streaming video so that they can immediately...

How SMS Works by Jim Sherman
SMS, or Short Message Service, is the technology behind what we often refer to as ‘text messages’ or ‘SMSes’, as well as what allows for news alerts on cellular phones. In recent years SMS has ballooned to over a 50 billion dollar industry and is quickly taking the communications world by storm. ... But because the system does not rely upon fixed lines like a land based telephone system does, the amount of information that can be sent at one time is limited in size. ... While there are some limitations, the brilliance behind SMS is that because there is no need for central hubs, and thus...