HD Camera / Face Rec / Door Controller All-in-One

By Brian Rhodes, Published Apr 30, 2014, 12:00am EDT (Info+)

Is it a security camera, face recognition reader, or a door controller?

Stand aside people: BioCam 300 claims to be all three, and more.

Should you consider this device for your systems? What are the downsides?

We take a look at the key features, pricing and competitive positioning inside.

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Comments (10)

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Skip Cusack

04/30/14 01:17pm

If the system is running in a verification mode (1:1) as it should for access control applications, then the number of faces in the database will have no bearing on matching accuracy and false alarm rates.

Rukmini Wilson

In reply to Skip Cusack | 04/30/14 04:27pm

... the number of faces in the database will have no bearing on matching accuracy and false alarm rates.

So are you saying if it doesn't work with ~400 faces don't expect it to work any better with ~40? That's too bad because the latter is probably closer to the SOHO sweetspot...

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Skip Cusack

04/30/14 05:37pm

I may have expressed myself poorly. While running in verification mode the number of users enrolled in the database will have no bearing on 1:1 verification matching performance, because the user presumably asserts his/her identity and the live image(s) is compared to the database image(s) corresponding to that user only. The number of images captured during runtime and enrollment for each user will likely have a bearing on matching accuracy. However, the technical matching performance for each user may either improve or degrade with the nature and number of images used depending on how the system makes use of them.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Skip Cusack | 08/07/15 06:54pm

Skip - I'm not sure I totally follow your post. Are you saying that facial ID should be used as a sort of secondary verification mechanism, instead of being the primary/only verification mechanism?

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Skip Cusack

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/07/15 08:19pm

With regards to FR accuracy: The product does have provision for wiegand inputs, so it could run in a two factor verification mode: User asserts identity with a possession factor (e.g., card) and FR camera verifies identity with biometrics (1:1 match). The accuracy of this mode will be much higher than identification mode (1:Many). In ID mode, the user looks at the camera, and his/her face is compared to every other image in the database (up to 400 users @ several images / user). Achieving good technical performance in this mode requires much stronger biometric performance as the probability for false match is much higher.

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Undisclosed #1

In reply to Skip Cusack | 08/07/15 08:41pm

What I don't get about the recent burst of face-recognition access control products is where the real application is.

It seems like there are two primary cases:

1) Face-as-credential. This one still seems way to prone to false reads and delays, negating the ease-of-use factor when users get locked out or spend 10+ seconds at the door trying to get through.

2) Face-as-secondary credential. This one seems more practical because you're comparing the face read at the door to a known set of profile images, but it's still generally more costly and time consuming that something like an iris scan or fingerprint scan. The hardware is also bulky and ugly (for a door ornament) relative to other options.

I can't help but feel like facial recognition access control and 3D printers have a lot in common as that "gee whiz" thing that just can't really find a feasible fit in the marketplace just yet. This limits it to novelty and niche applications, which slows down overall adoption and R&D.

Are you seeing facial recognition applications that are truly viable and practical for a mainstream deployment?

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Patrick Hart

IPVMU Certified | 05/01/14 01:55pm

Shouldn't the door controller be on the secure side of the door?

kenneth macphee

05/01/14 04:15pm

What if I take a full sized picture of an authorized person and hold it up in front of my face? At least it would be cleaner than chopping their head off!

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Lynn Harold

In reply to kenneth macphee | 08/07/15 02:27pm

Ken - I actually tried that, didn't work. I am guessing the facial geometry stored as the credential doesn't work when you have a flat 2D image.

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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Lynn Harold | 08/07/15 09:00pm

What if the spoofed face was 3d?

Shades of Brian's Frankenfinger...;)

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