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15th April 2005 - OMRON Corporation, a global leader
in automation, sensing and control technology, demonstrated
the 'OKAO Vision Face Recognition Sensor' at the 'Security
Show Japan 2005', held March 2nd to 4th at the Tokyo
Big Sight. The new system features face-recognition
technology for camera-enabled cell phones and other
devices as an alternative to passwords or fingerprint
scanners for security and access control. However, as
mobile units enabled with the 'OKAO Vision Face Recognition
Sensor' require no additional hardware, 'OKAO' technology
offers a biometric security software solution at a reduced
cost.
"OMRON developed a new algorithm which classifies
the features of the eyes, nose and mouth. The technology
detects 80 points on the face," explained Mr. Masato
Kawade, Senior Manager of Sensing & Control Technology
Lab., at the Security Show 2005. "As OKAO is a
software solution, and doesn't require any additional
hardware, we feel there is a large potential in overseas
markets."
The new sensor is made possible with OMRON's 'OKAO
Vision' core company sensor technology, which allows
the new technology to transcend previous limits in memory
capacity and processing ability by successfully downsizing
and speeding up the algorithm. The sensor tests successfully
more than 99 times in 100, and is fully Symbian, BREW,
embedded Linux, and ITRON OS compatible. Data registration
measures 1.5 KB per photo, while memory usage measures
just ROM 450 KB or RAM 370 KB. Full processing time
is approximately one second with MSM 6500.
Users register their own face image to their unit by
taking a picture of themselves with the unit's camera.
OMRON's 'OKAO Vision' technology converts the picture
into a face-print that takes up about 1.5K bytes of
storage space. To verify identity, users take picture
of themselves again. The 'OKAO Vision Face Recognition
Sensor' detects the user and unlocks the unit in a process
taking less than a second from snapping the photograph.
OKAO requires no adjustment to the camera position when
taking the photo. If the face is included in the photo,
the sensor will detect the owner automatically.
"The reaction has been very big from companies
in Japan and around the world. Many manufacturers have
contacted us about 'OKAO Face Recognition', and we are
assured that this is a very exciting technology with
global potential," said Takayuki Nakamura, of OMRON
Corporate Brand Communications Division. "This
technology is commercially available today. OMRON has
moved to the marketing phase, and introducing this technology
to mobile phone manufacturers. When they move on the
decision to introduce this technology to their mobile
units, then this technology will be in the consumer's
hands."
"Pricing for 'OKAO Face Recognition' technology
will depend on quantities and applications," added
Mr.Nakamura. "Details are becoming clearer through
the sales and marketing process."
About OMRON
Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, OMRON Corporation (TSE:
6645; ADR: OMRNY) is a global leader in the field of automation
and sensing and control technology. Established in 1933
and headed by President and CEO Hisao Sakuta, OMRON has
more than 26,000 employees in over 35 countries working
to provide products and services to customers in a variety
of fields including industrial automation, electronic
components, social systems (ticket gate machines, ticket
vending machines, and traffic control), and healthcare.
The company is divided into five regions and head offices
are in Japan (Kyoto), Asia Pacific (Singapore), China
(Shanghai), Europe (Amsterdam) and US (Chicago). For more
information, visit OMRON's website at www.omron.com.
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