Japanese Time and Access System Uses SAFR Facial Recognition Tech

Seattle-based digital media software and services company RealNetworks has announced that its SAFR facial recognition platform has been chosen to power a new biometric access control system in Japan.

The Facema access control and health management system — developed by Nextware Corporation, Ltd. and Kids-Way Corporation — is designed for use at construction sites in Japan, allowing workers to automatically have their arrival and departure on the job site registered.

“We are pleased to announce that we have started selling the AI-based FACEma biometric access control and health management solution for attendance and departure at construction sites using SAFR facial recognition technology,” said Kakumori Ban, President, Kids-Way Corporation.

Additionally, Facema is capable of measuring each individual’s body temperature, watching for individuals with high temperatures in an effort to provide protection against potentially contagious viral infections.

“The FACEma solution has already been deployed at many construction sites and is helping to reduce costs and streamline access control and health management in the construction industry by providing fast, accurate face recognition with SAFR technology coupled with Kids-Way body temperature measurement,” said Mr. Noriaki Takamura, APAC area Vice President, RealNetworks.

Due to a diverse workforce in Japan representing a variety of skin tones, Nextware and Kids-Way placed emphasis on finding a facial recognition algorithm that isn’t prone to racial bias, with SAFR fitting that description. A December 2019 NIST study revealed that many of the facial recognition algorithms used today are prone to misidentifying people of color far more often than middle-aged white men. Following the release of that study, the facial recognition industry has begun placing more of an emphasis on eliminating racial (and gender-based) biases from algorithms.

“We are confident that the FACEma solution can effectively respond to the growing needs for non-contact biometric authentication and screening for fevers,” said Mr. Taka Toyoda, President and CEO of Nextware Co., Ltd., developer of the FACEma solution. “We believe that improving the efficiency of attendance and departure / physical condition management work at construction sites will contribute to the further development of the construction industry.”

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December 8, 2021 U2014 by Tony Bitzionis