[access-uk] Iris recognition for security
- From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2004 08:28:12 +0100
Hi Folks.
Yesterday I was invited to take part in a session to help trial iris
recognition in passports, and not being one to turn down fifteen quid for no
more than an hours waiting about and going through the process, how could I
refuse? I've heard of this recently and always thought that for many, if
not most VI people, its not practical or workable. Why is this being chosen
over finger prints? Maybe because iris recognition, if it works, would be
quicker. Anyone know the answer?
In the meantime, here's a peice from BBC technology News about NOT smiling
for the bluddy camera.
Ray.
Grins banned from passport pics
Travellers have been ordered not to look too happy in their passport
photographs to avoid confusing facial recognition scanners.
Toothy, open mouthed grins are being outlawed from the tiny 35mm by 45mm
photographs because they will throw off scanners used at airports.
Long fringes and head coverings, are also banned, under the new regulations
along with dummies in babies' mouths.
The new type of passports are being introduced in a bid to fight terrorism.
A Home Office spokesman said: "When the mouth is open it can make it
difficult for facial recognition technology to work effectively."
The machines work by matching key points on the holder's face, such as the
mouth and eyes, with the photograph.
'Neutral expression'
It is easier for it to recognise a neutral expression with the mouth closed.
Chief executive of the UK Passport Service (UKPS) Bernard Herdan said:
"These new guidelines are an important step in the development of the new
biometric ePassport and use of facial recognition technology that will be
introduced in 2005 as part of the ongoing fight against fraud and
international terrorism."
The UKPS is planning to implement a facial recognition image biometric in
the British passport book from late 2005 to early 2006.
It is hoped the biometric image will help to counter identity fraud and
verify the identity of the holder against the document.
The new rules say "photographs must show no shadows: your face looking
straight at the camera, a neutral expression, with your mouth closed."
Head coverings
Eyes must be open and clearly visible, and there must be no sunglasses,
tinted glasses or hair across the eyes, it adds.
Anyone who wears glasses must wear them at the end of their nose so they do
not cover their eyes. They must also ensure the lenses do not produce
reflections.
No head coverings are allowed unless they are worn for a religious belief.
The new photographic regulations are effective immediately but the Passport
Service says it will exercise some flexibility until early 2005.
Existing passport holders will not need to have their current passports
updated, but they will have to comply with the new guidelines when they
renew their passports.
Would your passport pic pass muster under the new rules? Why not send us
your comments - using the form below- or send your passport photo and
comments to yourpics@xxxxxxxxx
It's simple; if these new computer systems can't do the job properly, let
alone as well as a human can already do it, then they're not ready and
should not be used yet. Why should we change our behaviour to compensate for
an inadequate, unnecessary and expensive computer system?
Duncan Corps, Knebworth, England
My passport will be fine, but reading the do's and don'ts for children's
passports is ridiculous. As if a young toddler/child is able to be a
terrorist. This is getting absurd. Yes they should tighten up on pictures,
but surely not for children. I had loads of problems getting my child to
have her photo taken at 13 months old, sounds as though I will have many
problems with my 9 month old twin boys.
Michelle, Rainham, Kent
My passport photo has a picture of me from 1996 with very long length hair,
a beard and a scruffy t-shirt. Bearing that in mind, the last time I got on
a flight I was wearing a suit - the hair and beard have been chopped. No one
took a second look at the photo...
John, Southampton, UK
Why was none of this deemed necessary when the IRA was waging a terrorist
war against us?
Matthew Hunt, Felixstowe
I recently applied for a passport renewal. I was told that my chin was too
dark in the photo I submitted (I am black) and that the scanning software
could not lighten the it sufficiently for it to be of use!
Paul Ashman, Bromley, Kent
Oh, well done! Millions of pounds spent on a system that cannot deal with
one of the most basic human expressions. There can't be much hope therefore
for it dealing with people gaining/losing weight, growing/removing facial
hair or indeed aging by 10 years over a 10 year period.
Richard, Harrogate, UK
As far as I know, it has always been the case that passport photos are not
supposed to show you smiling. In fact, Norman Wisdom used this very
instruction for a scene in his film "Man of the Moment". This is certainly
the advice I've always seen in the application forms, and it is what I have
always complied with. So yes, my passport photo would pass muster under
these rules.
David Hazel, Fareham, UK
I assume that Blunkett will now be passing a law forbidding smiling, babies
dummies or any type of facial covering in airports in order for the
technology to work properly.
Adam Naylor, Kidderminster, UK
If you look like your passport photo, you are too sick to travel!
Malcolm, Milton Keynes, Bucks
The technology for facial recognition is massively over hyped. In fact it is
extremely unreliable even under ideal conditions. This story is just an
early indication of the fact that the technology is not even close to
working well enough for this application. Yes a digital image can be stored
on a passport, no a machine will not be able to tell whether a person
matches the photo any better than a human could and in fact will do worse.
Alan Johnson, Thame, UK
Should not be a problem - with this increasingly nanny state, we have
nothing left to smile at anyway !
Neil McDougall, Marlow England
Why on earth are people whinging. It doesn't matter what the reasons are for
passport photos being what they are. The Passport Office sets the rules. We
have two choices: follow them, or don't get a passport. After all, leaving
the country is not compulsory!
John Smith, London, UK
I welcome any system that can be used to identify potential terrorists. A
human cannot remember the faces of all suspects. Even if a computer only
recognises a few faces, this could potentially avoid another terrorist
atrocity.
Simon Rowan, London
To me photos of young children seem pretty pointless anyway. My sons
passport has a picture of him taken by the hospital photographer when he was
just a few hours old, but it's valid for 5 years. At 20 months he already
looks nothing like the photo, and even though it would obey the rules on no
smiling and so on, can you really tell me that a scanner will be able to
make a match between photo and child when he is 4 or 5 years old?
Rob, Dorchester, UK
In response to Matthew Hunt of Felixstowe's question, I would guess this has
more to do with the unreliability of face recognition technology than with
the seriousness of the threat. As a technology it has a lot of appeal for
people who work in border control and national security, because it promises
the possibility of scanning large numbers of people very quickly for any of
a number of 'wanted' faces. But as yet the technology is still in its
infancy, and can be thwarted by hats, glasses, beards, etc. and evidently
even a smile. Close your mouth on your passport photo and smile on your way
through customs though, and the effect will presumably be the same.
Bruce Ashton, Reaing, UK
Glasses at the end of my nose - and a po face? Evidently the intention to
make all focally challenged persons look like vicars in their passports is a
device to conceal the true identity of some fanatical religious terrorist
outfit. We must beware - some deep radical Anglican organisation has
obviously infiltrated the passport office. Just because you're paranoid,
don't mean they're not after you!
Andy Mayo, Cambridge, UK
I once sent a photo in so that they could process my new passport and they
sent it back saying that the photo was unacceptable because the top of my
head reached the top of the photo. I sent in a clipping of my hair and asked
them to attach it to the photo... they weren't amused.
Richard Johnson, London
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/3541444.stm
Published: 2004/08/06 13:05:33 GMT
© BBC MMIV
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