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Many readers are probably already familiar with biometric technologies. They are now ubiquitous. In a general sense, biometrics is a system for recognizing people by one or more physical (or behavioral) characteristics. In the field of information technology, biometric data is used as a form of access identifier management and access control. Typically, the operating mode of biometric systems comes down to two main types.
The first is called verification, which is a comparison of the test result with a biometric template. This option helps verify whether the person is who they say they are. Verification can be carried out in various ways, including a smart card, user name or user number. The second mode is identification. Once a specific sample is received, the system is checked against a biometric database to determine identity. There is one important point here - for this mode of operation, the biometric sample must be in the database, and the comparison must be carried out on the “one to many” principle. In general, biometric technologies have enormous potential, which has not yet been fully realized. What is the state of biometric technologies in Russia and the world today?
In a number of cases, their development cannot yet be considered satisfactory. So far, this area is actively developing, although there are already some results (more on this below). In some cases, biometrics are considered not a very reliable method of identification or verification. Thus, in the United States, the Tampa Police Department even uninstalled facial recognition software, considering it not very reliable. But there they talked about the introduction of outdated biometric methods, which do not always show their best side.
However, modern biometric technologies are becoming more accurate and reliable. Many companies and scientific organizations are engaged in research and development in this area. Moreover, priority over time has shifted to contactless methods of biometric recognition. Biometrics are used in many areas, including banking, security and access control systems, visa control systems, police criminal identification systems, collecting visitor statistics and much more. So far, about half of the biometric market is occupied by fingerprint recognition systems. But the situation is gradually changing, developers understand that fingerprinting is not the most reliable way to identify a person (in “MythBusters” they once even showed a way to open a fingerprint lock using fingerprints printed on a printer), so new biometric technologies are gradually becoming more and more popular .
In general, we can say that biometrics has become an integral part of people's lives. In some countries, for example, you cannot obtain a passport or visa without biometric data. Government organizations in various countries believe that biometrics is one of the most effective ways to identify refugees and those who cross the border illegally.
Now there are many projects based on biometric technologies. Perhaps one of the most large-scale is the AADHAAR project, implemented in India. It is a biometric identification system that contains data from more than a billion people. The database contains about 10 billion fingerprint templates, two billion iris templates and a billion photographs. Something similar was shown in the science fiction film I Origins. However, identification by iris is a very real technology that is becoming increasingly popular.
All residents of India can obtain an entry in AADHAAR; this is an identification number that is linked to the biometric data of users. It is used in financial transactions, when working with various public and private services. A cloud service for storing scanned documents is also linked to AADHAAR.
Of course, India is not alone in introducing biometric identification. Other states are doing this too. And not only states, but also private companies. According to the analytical agency J'son & Partners Consulting, the global market for biometric systems will reach $40 billion by 2022. Analysts' conclusions are based on key players' revenues by segment, taking into account hardware, software and integration.
Another analytical agency, Acuity Research, estimates the growth in the number of biometric electronic documents e-ID to 749 million by 2018. And in total, according to agency specialists, in 2018 there will be about 3.5 billion electronic documents in the world. Already, more than half of the UN member countries issue biometric passports. An example of the implementation of programs for the transition to biometric electronic documents includes government and private contracts in Canada, the USA, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Hungary, Bangladesh, Senegal and other countries.
In Russia, biometric technologies are developing quite quickly, more actively than in many countries. For example, the largest banks in the Russian Federation began testing biometric customer identification systems this year. The Central Bank, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and Rosfinmonitoring are creating their own biometric database; this system will reach the testing stage this year.
According to Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank Olga Skorobogatova, the pilot project will allow you to become a client of any bank remotely. To do this, it will be enough to go through the biometric registration procedure once at any credit institution participating in the project.
“Biometrics is a very exciting topic. This is identification, remote identification, the creation of a unified database about individuals, I’m talking more about individuals, which would enable any bank and any organization not to force clients to come on their feet to fill out a large list of documents,” RIA quotes Skorobogatova.
From this experiment to the creation of a national biometric database there is literally one step left.
The banking sector is trying to introduce customer identification systems by voice, photograph, and fingerprints. For example, VTB24 has already tested biometric identification as part of online banking. During the login process of the online banking app, customers were asked to provide their photo and voice sample. Using this data it is planned to carry out identification. After confirming the user's identity, all operations are performed without additional confirmation. Sberbank also shows great interest in biometrics, which has already accredited RecFaces (Comlogic application) as one of its partners in this area.
Similar technologies are used in Promsvyazbank and Home Credit, Tinkoff Bank and a number of other organizations. As for the unified biometric database, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and Rosfinmonitoring are simultaneously working on its creation. This project may take several years to complete. A common biometric data base, according to experts, will be useful for the financial and legal sectors, government services, public safety, medicine and more.
Speaking about biometrics in Russia, we cannot fail to mention our development - an information platform for multimodal identification, called Id-Me.
Typically, companies that implement biometrics must select several suppliers and invest considerable funds in the creation of a central computing infrastructure, its maintenance, various types of licenses and equipment.
But it’s not just about the investment and the complexity of the process. Each algorithm that is currently offered on the market has a number of its own features and advantages. We at RecFaces have focused specifically on creating a full-fledged integrated platform that uses the world's best achievements in the field of biometrics. Having the opportunity to study algorithms and compare them, we select those solutions that show maximum efficiency.
For example, biometric identification technologies based on a mathematical model of the face are licensed from the Japanese company Toshiba. 3D identification is carried out using solutions from Artec ID and Intel Corporation. There is no doubt that for identification modules based on iris patterns, fingerprints, and palm vein patterns that are being prepared for implementation into the Id-Me platform, RecFaces will choose the most modern and promising technical solutions. Clients will only have to use the “magic” of Id-Me to solve their application problems.
For an outside observer, Id-Me works quite simply. One of the main components of the system is the Id-Box (capture module). It is a small “smart” identification device based on a PC platform in a compact case. It is this element that is responsible for recognizing faces and, in the future, other types of biometric data. It connects to a surveillance camera and other sensors. The system receives an array of data from them, which is then converted into a specialized index, a mathematical model, which is sent to the cloud for comparison with the standard stored there. By working with indexes, the system is not demanding on the “width” of the Internet channel.
This is a universal system that works effectively with various types of images and can use information from a surveillance camera. Id-Box, if necessary, can collect statistics on the number of visitors, including age, gender and emotional state. If a failure occurs, there is no need to worry; inside the box there is its own large hard drive where all important data is stored. In the event of a sudden network shutdown, all information will be saved and the system will continue to operate.
The data collected by Id-box is sent to the cloud, where the system compares the current index with all previous versions. If there is a match, that is, the system recognizes the registered person, the client receives an alert. The service is compatible with the main basic platforms, including the web interface, mobile clients iOS, Android, Windows.
The entire system is securely protected thanks to an encrypted connection. In addition, there is a Firewall and a crypto gateway with crypto routers is provided. An electronic digital signature, anti-virus software and intrusion detection tools certified by FSTEC are used.
The Id-Me biometric platform from RecFaces is designed to be as useful as possible for banks, airports, retail, hotel businesses, sports organizations, and government agencies.
Banks can use biometrics to improve security. Here we can give as an example a possible case of a fraudster attempting to withdraw money from someone else’s card. The ATM camera connected to Id-Me identifies the face of the person trying to do this. If this information does not match what is contained in the database, the withdrawal of funds is blocked almost instantly. To use this method of protection, you do not even need to equip the ATM with additional equipment.
Similarly, a bank can protect its lending department. A fraudster who is trying to carry out a financial transaction under a false name will not be able to do this if he is being watched by a camera connected to the Id-Me service.
Plus, bank employees can also log in, which is necessary when performing any critical tasks. This function can be useful in many areas. Id-Me, for example, allows you to automate staff time tracking.
Since Id-Me can analyze video streams from surveillance cameras and individual images, the system can be used to collect statistics about visits, movement trajectories and visitor behavior.
Using proprietary recognition technologies from Toshiba and other partners, Id-Me allows you to use biometric identification to determine the buyer's gender, age, and personal preferences, linking all this with CRM. Such a system is also great for recognizing an important client by immediately receiving information about him, the date of his last visit to a store or other site. All this will help you find a common language with a person, instantly deciding on his preferences.
Examples of similar combinations of biometric identification with CRM already implemented jointly with RecFaces partners have shown their high marketing effectiveness. We will definitely write about this in detail later.
For the hotel industry, knowing your customers is essential. If a person sees that he is remembered, not only his first and last name, but also his preferences, then, most likely, such a client will return to the “attentive” hotel again and again. And for unwanted guests, you can create a “black list” with the relevant data.
Hotel surveillance cameras will record everything that happens, notifying the administration if an unknown person has entered the room or office space. Hotel employees will be aware that the smart system always knows who went where and why, so there will be less abuse.
Organizers of sports competitions, concerts and other public events can quickly receive information about unwanted elements (for example, hooligan fans) trying to get into the event. Lost child? The system will help you quickly determine how and when this happened, and will also determine where the child is if he is visible. Something went wrong? Security will be immediately alerted.
It will be easier for law enforcement officers to maintain security in schools or public places, or at transport infrastructure facilities, if they receive notifications about suspicious people and events occurring in the surveillance zone. Car thefts, hooliganism - all this can be prevented if you find out about the problem in time.
In general, there are a huge number of ways to use biometric systems. No matter how pretentious it may sound, they are the future. Biometrics is and will be used in a large number of areas. And Id-Me can already be used in most of them. You can learn more about what solutions the company already offers and is preparing to launch, and get acquainted with its comprehensive solutions by visiting the 23rd International Exhibition of Technical Security Equipment and Equipment for Security and Fire Protection MIPS 2017.
With this material, we are pleased to open the official blog of the RecFaces company on Habrahabr. Follow our activities in order to stay up to date with the latest advances in the field of biometric identification and get acquainted with examples of its implementation in a variety of sectors of business and public life. In the near future, we will tell you about the possibilities of using biometric systems to improve the security of transport infrastructure facilities, and also analyze a case with the results of the real implementation of Id-Me.
The first is called verification, which is a comparison of the test result with a biometric template. This option helps verify whether the person is who they say they are. Verification can be carried out in various ways, including a smart card, user name or user number. The second mode is identification. Once a specific sample is received, the system is checked against a biometric database to determine identity. There is one important point here - for this mode of operation, the biometric sample must be in the database, and the comparison must be carried out on the “one to many” principle. In general, biometric technologies have enormous potential, which has not yet been fully realized. What is the state of biometric technologies in Russia and the world today?
In a number of cases, their development cannot yet be considered satisfactory. So far, this area is actively developing, although there are already some results (more on this below). In some cases, biometrics are considered not a very reliable method of identification or verification. Thus, in the United States, the Tampa Police Department even uninstalled facial recognition software, considering it not very reliable. But there they talked about the introduction of outdated biometric methods, which do not always show their best side.
However, modern biometric technologies are becoming more accurate and reliable. Many companies and scientific organizations are engaged in research and development in this area. Moreover, priority over time has shifted to contactless methods of biometric recognition. Biometrics are used in many areas, including banking, security and access control systems, visa control systems, police criminal identification systems, collecting visitor statistics and much more. So far, about half of the biometric market is occupied by fingerprint recognition systems. But the situation is gradually changing, developers understand that fingerprinting is not the most reliable way to identify a person (in “MythBusters” they once even showed a way to open a fingerprint lock using fingerprints printed on a printer), so new biometric technologies are gradually becoming more and more popular .
Biometrics: scale
In general, we can say that biometrics has become an integral part of people's lives. In some countries, for example, you cannot obtain a passport or visa without biometric data. Government organizations in various countries believe that biometrics is one of the most effective ways to identify refugees and those who cross the border illegally.
Now there are many projects based on biometric technologies. Perhaps one of the most large-scale is the AADHAAR project, implemented in India. It is a biometric identification system that contains data from more than a billion people. The database contains about 10 billion fingerprint templates, two billion iris templates and a billion photographs. Something similar was shown in the science fiction film I Origins. However, identification by iris is a very real technology that is becoming increasingly popular.
All residents of India can obtain an entry in AADHAAR; this is an identification number that is linked to the biometric data of users. It is used in financial transactions, when working with various public and private services. A cloud service for storing scanned documents is also linked to AADHAAR.
Of course, India is not alone in introducing biometric identification. Other states are doing this too. And not only states, but also private companies. According to the analytical agency J'son & Partners Consulting, the global market for biometric systems will reach $40 billion by 2022. Analysts' conclusions are based on key players' revenues by segment, taking into account hardware, software and integration.
Another analytical agency, Acuity Research, estimates the growth in the number of biometric electronic documents e-ID to 749 million by 2018. And in total, according to agency specialists, in 2018 there will be about 3.5 billion electronic documents in the world. Already, more than half of the UN member countries issue biometric passports. An example of the implementation of programs for the transition to biometric electronic documents includes government and private contracts in Canada, the USA, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Hungary, Bangladesh, Senegal and other countries.
What about in Russia?
In Russia, biometric technologies are developing quite quickly, more actively than in many countries. For example, the largest banks in the Russian Federation began testing biometric customer identification systems this year. The Central Bank, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and Rosfinmonitoring are creating their own biometric database; this system will reach the testing stage this year.
According to Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank Olga Skorobogatova, the pilot project will allow you to become a client of any bank remotely. To do this, it will be enough to go through the biometric registration procedure once at any credit institution participating in the project.
“Biometrics is a very exciting topic. This is identification, remote identification, the creation of a unified database about individuals, I’m talking more about individuals, which would enable any bank and any organization not to force clients to come on their feet to fill out a large list of documents,” RIA quotes Skorobogatova.
From this experiment to the creation of a national biometric database there is literally one step left.
The banking sector is trying to introduce customer identification systems by voice, photograph, and fingerprints. For example, VTB24 has already tested biometric identification as part of online banking. During the login process of the online banking app, customers were asked to provide their photo and voice sample. Using this data it is planned to carry out identification. After confirming the user's identity, all operations are performed without additional confirmation. Sberbank also shows great interest in biometrics, which has already accredited RecFaces (Comlogic application) as one of its partners in this area.
Similar technologies are used in Promsvyazbank and Home Credit, Tinkoff Bank and a number of other organizations. As for the unified biometric database, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and Rosfinmonitoring are simultaneously working on its creation. This project may take several years to complete. A common biometric data base, according to experts, will be useful for the financial and legal sectors, government services, public safety, medicine and more.
Digital biometric profile from RecFaces
Speaking about biometrics in Russia, we cannot fail to mention our development - an information platform for multimodal identification, called Id-Me.
Typically, companies that implement biometrics must select several suppliers and invest considerable funds in the creation of a central computing infrastructure, its maintenance, various types of licenses and equipment.
But it’s not just about the investment and the complexity of the process. Each algorithm that is currently offered on the market has a number of its own features and advantages. We at RecFaces have focused specifically on creating a full-fledged integrated platform that uses the world's best achievements in the field of biometrics. Having the opportunity to study algorithms and compare them, we select those solutions that show maximum efficiency.
For example, biometric identification technologies based on a mathematical model of the face are licensed from the Japanese company Toshiba. 3D identification is carried out using solutions from Artec ID and Intel Corporation. There is no doubt that for identification modules based on iris patterns, fingerprints, and palm vein patterns that are being prepared for implementation into the Id-Me platform, RecFaces will choose the most modern and promising technical solutions. Clients will only have to use the “magic” of Id-Me to solve their application problems.
For an outside observer, Id-Me works quite simply. One of the main components of the system is the Id-Box (capture module). It is a small “smart” identification device based on a PC platform in a compact case. It is this element that is responsible for recognizing faces and, in the future, other types of biometric data. It connects to a surveillance camera and other sensors. The system receives an array of data from them, which is then converted into a specialized index, a mathematical model, which is sent to the cloud for comparison with the standard stored there. By working with indexes, the system is not demanding on the “width” of the Internet channel.
This is a universal system that works effectively with various types of images and can use information from a surveillance camera. Id-Box, if necessary, can collect statistics on the number of visitors, including age, gender and emotional state. If a failure occurs, there is no need to worry; inside the box there is its own large hard drive where all important data is stored. In the event of a sudden network shutdown, all information will be saved and the system will continue to operate.
The data collected by Id-box is sent to the cloud, where the system compares the current index with all previous versions. If there is a match, that is, the system recognizes the registered person, the client receives an alert. The service is compatible with the main basic platforms, including the web interface, mobile clients iOS, Android, Windows.
The entire system is securely protected thanks to an encrypted connection. In addition, there is a Firewall and a crypto gateway with crypto routers is provided. An electronic digital signature, anti-virus software and intrusion detection tools certified by FSTEC are used.
Scope of application of Id-Me
The Id-Me biometric platform from RecFaces is designed to be as useful as possible for banks, airports, retail, hotel businesses, sports organizations, and government agencies.
Banks can use biometrics to improve security. Here we can give as an example a possible case of a fraudster attempting to withdraw money from someone else’s card. The ATM camera connected to Id-Me identifies the face of the person trying to do this. If this information does not match what is contained in the database, the withdrawal of funds is blocked almost instantly. To use this method of protection, you do not even need to equip the ATM with additional equipment.
Similarly, a bank can protect its lending department. A fraudster who is trying to carry out a financial transaction under a false name will not be able to do this if he is being watched by a camera connected to the Id-Me service.
Plus, bank employees can also log in, which is necessary when performing any critical tasks. This function can be useful in many areas. Id-Me, for example, allows you to automate staff time tracking.
Since Id-Me can analyze video streams from surveillance cameras and individual images, the system can be used to collect statistics about visits, movement trajectories and visitor behavior.
Using proprietary recognition technologies from Toshiba and other partners, Id-Me allows you to use biometric identification to determine the buyer's gender, age, and personal preferences, linking all this with CRM. Such a system is also great for recognizing an important client by immediately receiving information about him, the date of his last visit to a store or other site. All this will help you find a common language with a person, instantly deciding on his preferences.
Examples of similar combinations of biometric identification with CRM already implemented jointly with RecFaces partners have shown their high marketing effectiveness. We will definitely write about this in detail later.
For the hotel industry, knowing your customers is essential. If a person sees that he is remembered, not only his first and last name, but also his preferences, then, most likely, such a client will return to the “attentive” hotel again and again. And for unwanted guests, you can create a “black list” with the relevant data.
Hotel surveillance cameras will record everything that happens, notifying the administration if an unknown person has entered the room or office space. Hotel employees will be aware that the smart system always knows who went where and why, so there will be less abuse.
Organizers of sports competitions, concerts and other public events can quickly receive information about unwanted elements (for example, hooligan fans) trying to get into the event. Lost child? The system will help you quickly determine how and when this happened, and will also determine where the child is if he is visible. Something went wrong? Security will be immediately alerted.
It will be easier for law enforcement officers to maintain security in schools or public places, or at transport infrastructure facilities, if they receive notifications about suspicious people and events occurring in the surveillance zone. Car thefts, hooliganism - all this can be prevented if you find out about the problem in time.
In general, there are a huge number of ways to use biometric systems. No matter how pretentious it may sound, they are the future. Biometrics is and will be used in a large number of areas. And Id-Me can already be used in most of them. You can learn more about what solutions the company already offers and is preparing to launch, and get acquainted with its comprehensive solutions by visiting the 23rd International Exhibition of Technical Security Equipment and Equipment for Security and Fire Protection MIPS 2017.
With this material, we are pleased to open the official blog of the RecFaces company on Habrahabr. Follow our activities in order to stay up to date with the latest advances in the field of biometric identification and get acquainted with examples of its implementation in a variety of sectors of business and public life. In the near future, we will tell you about the possibilities of using biometric systems to improve the security of transport infrastructure facilities, and also analyze a case with the results of the real implementation of Id-Me.
