The 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be the first Olympics ever to use facial recognition technology for increased security throughout all venues during the event.
The Japanese organizers have teamed up with technology giant NEC in order to develop the unique security system. NEC is currently global leader in technologies like biometric identification, iris scans, palm prints, voice and ear acoustics and the company supplies systems to well over 70 countries and regions.
The system was showcased during an event in Tokyo and it will use IC chips held within the ID cards to verify the identity of those who enter the Olympic venues automatically. NEC says that the system has an accuracy rate of more than 99%.
Organizers believe that using the system will speed up the process of waiting in line, enabling swifter entries during what is expected to be an intensely hot summer, and would also help increase security levels.
Credit: Japan Times / YouTube
The system will not be used for spectators though – only accredited people that need to go to areas where the general public is not allowed will have to go past it. Because those people will need to move in and out of secure areas often, the facial recognition system is expected to make the process run smoothly.
The system uses NEC’s Bio-IDom identification technology, which also happens to have been named the world’s top face-recognition technology not only once but four times consecutively by the U.S National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The facial recognition software will not be the only security measure implemented by the organizers though, in addition to security guards there will also be perimeter fences, x-ray screenings and cameras layered out across the venues.
By the time the Olympic games will start, it is expected that around 300,000 people will be walking into the over 40 sports venues that will be spread out throughout Tokyo.
Follow TechTheLead on Google News to get the news first.
