Facial recognition technology: What you should know

Just like your thumbprint is unique to you, your face — or faceprint — is hard to duplicate (even in identical twins). With advancements in facial recognition technology, your faceprint is becoming more and more valuable to companies, whether it’s in marketing, social media or security.

>> I-Team: How can technology make schools safer?

While the technology can be used to make life more convenient, facial recognition can also raise questions about privacy, so it’s important to understand the technology and how it’s used.

Here are a few things that you should know about facial recognition technology:

How does it work?
Facial recognition technology uses an image of your face to identify different landmarks on your face and take certain measurements, like the distance between your eyes, according to Norton, a digital security company.

Those landmarks and measurements create a formula that can be compared to other known faces.

How accurate is it?

Different companies have developed facial recognition technology with varying success. Things such as lighting, image resolution and the angle can all make it difficult for the technology to recognize a face.

How is it used?

A variety of different companies use facial recognition technology for a variety of reasons. Some colleges and churches use it to check attendance, according to Norton, while marketing companies use it to target a group for a new product.

The Department of Homeland Security uses facial recognition in airports and retail stores use the technology to scan for shoplifters. Some companies are even looking at using the technology in school security systems.

On Wednesday, Feb. 27, News Center 7's I-Team is looking the different ways schools are looking to bolster security. For more information, tune in at 5:30 p.m.