The use of biometrics – unique body measurements or calculations that can act as a form of identification – was already on the rise in the security industry before the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, demand for contactless biometric solutions has skyrocketed. Wary consumers no longer want to rely on touch screens, keypads, or card readers to identify themselves, perform transactions, or gain access to a space due to fear of touching contaminated surfaces.
Contactless biometric solutions, which include such technologies as facial recognition, iris or retinal scanning, as examples, offer the benefits of highly accurate identification and measurement while requiring no physical contact that may expose a risk of infection. Fingerprint scanning, one of the first widely adopted biometric solutions (especially by owners of Apple iPhones), may be falling out of favor in public settings because it requires touch to function.
As an innovative health, safety and security technology provider, DeCurtis helps mitigate the spread of illness in complex indoor environments and utilizes thermal imaging and facial detection capabilities with DeCurtis Shield™, a health screening kiosk designed to help businesses operate safely during the pandemic.
According to Security Infowatch, “One of the biggest trends within many organizations and public facilities in the wake of COVID-19 has been the use of thermal imaging for fever detection. Many biometric firms are also now looking at ways to integrate these cameras into their solutions to create a comprehensive offering for access control and coronavirus mitigation.”
Screening people for fever as they enter a facility has been a widely accepted first step in mitigating risk and thermal imaging systems offer a fast, accurate, and contact-free screening method. Thermal imaging systems use cameras that automatically capture an image of a person’s face based upon the amount of infrared radiation they emit to determine their temperature. Conversely, manual temperature screening methods are slow and cause backups at entranceways, expose human screeners to higher risk, and be less accurate. (See Use Thermal Imaging Systems as a First Line of Defense)
The DeCurtis Shield™ can accurately screen an individual’s temperature in one second, and it does so by going a step further than standard thermal scans. A Shield™ kiosk can detect whether a person is looking directly at its screen, and when they are, it quickly assesses their brain’s temperature by accessing what is known as the “brain thermal tunnel” through the tear duct located immediately adjacent to the eye, all without touch.
Additionally, the DeCurtis Shield™ offers facial identification technology that can be used in multiple ways and integrated with different solutions. Employee photos can be scanned into the system so the kiosks can collect and record data as to who was screened, when, where, as well as their temperature. This data can be valuable in providing evidence that a business is taking precautions against outbreaks.
The facial identification feature can also detect whether a person is wearing a mask and allows businesses to prevent people from entering a space without one.
According to Security Magazine, facial recognition readers additionally may soon be used to allow doors to open automatically, elevators to route employees to the correct floor (without pushing a button), and even allow remote workers to log in to their work systems with an additional layer of security.
Contactless biometrics are key to creating a safer, healthier, and more secure future. If you’re interested in learning more about how to harness the power of biometrics for your business, visit our website or contact us today.