Facial recognition coming soon to a gadget near you
IMAGINE walking into a store where a robot greets you by name, lets you know that your online order is ready, and then suggests other products you might want pick up.
Facial recognition is making that possible as the technology gains traction in a range of consumer products, cars, and retail and hotel services, in addition to its longstanding but controversial use in law enforcement and security.
At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, exhibitors pointed to how facial recognition may be used to “personalise” experiences and enhance personal security.
While facial recognition has been on smartphones for some time, some newer uses include in care and entry systems for homes and offices, along with retail applications.
SoftBank Robotics chief strategy officer Steve Carlin, who showed CES attendees how the company’s Pepper robot could offer retail customers personalised attention, said the technology could also be used in hotels where an automated system could deliver a customised experience to a regular client.
“They should be able to say ‘Welcome back, you don’t need to stand in line, we’ve already checked you in and we’ve sent the key to your phone,’” Carlin said.
Carmakers at CES were showing how facial recognition could improve and personalise the travel experience through music, entertainment and other preferences.
Abe Chen of the Chinesebased auto startup Byton said its vehicle, set to launch later this year, would be able to make useful recommendations based on facial recognition.
“It knows who is in the car, how long you’ve been on the road and what you like to eat, so it could make a restaurant recommendation,” Chen told a CES presentation. — AFP