By KENICHIRO SHINO/ Staff Writer
January 6, 2026 at 07:00 JST
A rendering of how NEC Corp.’s new identification technology could be potentially used (Provided by NEC Corp.)
NEC Corp. has developed the world’s first combined facial and iris recognition technology meant to quickly yet accurately identify the faces of anyone who simply walks past a single camera.
The face and eye authentication system is expected to be utilized for cross-border immigration checkpoints, airport boarding procedures and payment processes, among other situations where strict identity verification is essential.
A pilot test is scheduled to start by the end of fiscal 2026 as part of the company’s goal to make the technology commercially available in fiscal 2027.
It intends for its product to speed up efficiency.
Conventional biometric identification setups with more stringent requirements typically rely on dual-factor verification. This double-checking process entails an extra step of presenting an ID card or inputting a password, inevitably adding to congestion at immigration and similar facilities.
Another challenge lies in how to efficiently process individuals who have lost their ID cards or forgotten their passwords.
KEEP GLASSES ON
NEC thus brought together facial authentication and iris recognition, achieving a higher level of precision in verifying personal identity than either method alone.
NEC’s latest system is reportedly able to screen individuals walking at a brisk pace of around 6 kph from a distance of 3 meters, both indoors and outdoors, eliminating the need for subjects to stop and look into the camera.
It is also claiming that its in-house artificial intelligence technology makes it possible to faithfully capture facial features even with motion blur. Subjects looking away or wearing glasses would also not be an issue.
The company previously announced separate facial and iris recognition-related technology in 2024 to identify stationary individuals.
This new product is anticipated to offer a far broader range of applications, since authentication is possible without individuals having to pause.
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