Skip to main content

Facial recognition software goes commercial

WASHINGTON — Everyone may soon know your name the next time you go shopping.

It’s all thanks to a powerful new facial recognition system that’s now commercially available.

NEC says its mobile facial recognition appliance could help stores treat everyone like a VIP by sending personal details to salespeople about each person who walks through the door, according to Naked Security. That could include their shopping history or other purchases at sister stores.

The electronics company says the system is accurate from a distance, which is one of its marketing points to law enforcement.

The camera that sends information back to the main computer running the system is only about 5 inches across. The system can run faces through any database loaded into the software.

h/t Naked Security.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

Hail to the chief: Take our presidential trivia quiz

EDITOR'S NOTE: WTOP first brought you this quiz in 2019. Presidents Day is coming. How well do you know the less-important facts about the nation's leaders? Take WTOP's quiz — with any luck, it won't take you all Presidents Day to finish it.
Read Next Story