Facial Recognition
 
    This type of technology has been popularized in many action movies as a means of identifying villains as they enter a building.  Facial biometrics can function from either short distances or over greater distances.  This form of biometric however is often less reliable then more common forms such as fingerprints and iris scans.  The interpretative functions the computer must perform to find a match is much more subjective using this technology.  An image is examined for overall facial structure which works well over short distances but progressively loses accuracy the greater the distance between the individual and the scanner.  Changes in lighting can also increase the error rate in these devices.

    This type of technology is in place in several airport terminals and at many border crossings to help determine the identities of individuals at a distance who may be involved in criminal activities without alerting the individual that they are being monitored.

    One of the more attractive features of these type of products is their cost.  Units can typically be purchased for as little as $150.  At this price, this type of technology might lend itself to electronic commerce, but the units can be cumbersome to use and still are not as reliable as other forms of biometrics to be used for encryption purposes.

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