Facial-recognition technology at the cutting edge of retail, high-speed authentication

December 8, 2017

Intel, Foxconn Technology Group and Asia Pacific Telecom, this week offered their first public showcase of facial recognition technology based on a Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) 5G solution. The proof-of-concept demonstration in Taiwan showed how retailers could offer customers new shopping experiences with just a scan of a shopper’s face.

The highly interactive demonstrations included use of facial-recognition technology for residential and business access control, a virtual shopping service and a pay-via-face identification entertainment service using artificial intelligence (AI) and Multi-access Edge Computing. The technology can integrate with facial recognition systems to provide high-speed authentication and, for customers who opt in, a high-touch and exclusive shopping experience.

MEC and facial-recognition systems used in smart retail can complete the payment authentication process within 0.03 seconds, according to Foxconn Technology Group and Asia Pacific Telecom. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

Read more from the presentation in Taipei: Intel, Foxconn Technology Group and Asia Pacific Telecom Showcase 5G-Ready Smart Applications

Presented in Asia, the technology has been the subject of news coverage around the world:

Intel demos 5G facial-recognition payment technology (ZDNet):

“In a showcase of several 5G-enabled technologies this week, Intel and Foxconn have demonstrated how facial-recognition capabilities can be used to make payments.

“Such ‘pay via face identification’ technology could allow consumers to make payments for entertainment and retail services using Intel’s Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) 5G solution along with advanced facial-recognition technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

“Intel and Foxconn also demonstrated facial recognition use cases across residential and office access control and virtual shopping malls. ‘This reduces the risk of personal information leakage and credit card fraud. Facial recognition is expected to be introduced to a variety of industries as the means of payment authentication, without the need of cash or credit cards.’”

Intel and Foxconn show off 5G facial recognition (Fudzilla):

“Intel says that MEC and facial recognition systems used in smart retail can complete the payment authentication process within 0.03 seconds. ‘This reduces the risk of personal information leakage and credit card fraud. Facial recognition is expected to be introduced to a variety of industries as the means of payment authentication, without the need of cash or credit cards.’

“Foxconn Technology Group corporate executive VP and Asia Pacific Telecom chair Fang-Ming Lu said that wireless cameras can connect to the internet via small cell radio access nodes offered by Asia Pacific Telecom and transmit the captured image to the facial-recognition engine to be processed on the local MEC platform. ‘The low-latency, high-speed computing and assessment capability allows the system to deliver the computing result in real time to achieve premium customer experience.’”

Intel demos facial recognition payments powered by 5G (ITProPortal):

“Intel said the MEC requires a couple of servers which would be installed at different locations, and managed through a centralized MEC controller. Intel says the MEC would be accessible through wired and wireless networks, allowing for a higher margin of flexibility."

“The demo was done on Asia Pacific Telecom’s mobile network.”