Herta upgrades biometric facial recognition to work with facemasks

Mar 11, 2020, 6:12 pm EDT | Luana Pascu

Herta upgrades biometric facial recognition to work with facemasks

Herta has upgraded its facial recognition algorithm to identify people wearing masks, the company announced in response to the global outbreak of coronavirus, which accelerated the release to market of technology Herta had already been working on.

The algorithm leverages deep learning technology to deliver a high identification rate, even though a part of the face is covered. The software can be used in access control or identity verification systems. It is valuable in automatic passenger identification systems, because the passenger will not have to take the mask off.

Some key environments that could benefit from this technology are transportation, health, government, events, sports stadiums and the gaming sector, the company says.

Herta has recently received a Frost & Sullivan Europe Award for biometrics excellence.

A number of tech companies have recently claimed to have developed facial recognition technology that works with face masks. Hanvon, SenseTime, Wisesoft and Remark Holdings have also recently announced facial biometrics upgrades to work with faces partially occluded by masks, while Telpo has integrated its facial recognition systems with thermometers to detect ill individuals.