NEC unveils its 3D Facial Recognition System for first time in Asia (outside Japan) at Global Security Asia 05

SINGAPORE, 29 March 2005 - NEC Solutions Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (NECSAP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation (NEC), will showcase its prototype 3D Facial Recognition System known as Fiore during Global Security Asia 2005 in Singapore for the first time in Asia outside Japan. NEC took 10 years to research and develop this matching method that identifies and highlights individual facial characteristics of 2D images and compares them with 3D and *GIB facial data, thereby achieving 24 times better accuracy than conventional 2D facial recognition, according to an *NEC study carried out in 2000 (note 1). GIB (Geodesic Illumination Basis) descriptors describe differences in illumination on the skin.

Fiore is based on NEC’s recognition algorithm which realizes the world’s most accurate personal identification matching rate of 96.5%, even under very severe environmental conditions that cause changes in illumination and posturing (see note 1). The algorithm uses GIB (Geodesic Illumination Basis) descriptors as registered data, which is calculated from 3D facial data, enabling optimal description of various pose and illumination changes. This results in superior identification accuracy essential to real world application of facial recognition technology.

Fiore has been implemented by the Japan National Police Agency for more than 3 years now with much success.

In addition, processing time of data comparisons between 2D and 3D facial images is shortened considerably due to NEC’s own IOF (Ideal Optical Flow), which is a method to estimate the amount of movement between the registered 3D image and the live 2D image.

Unlike conventional two-dimensional (2D) facial recognition currently available in the market, Fiore offers many security advantages such as a greater degree of accuracy in identity verification against a broad spectrum of lighting variation which is difficult to achieve in current 2D facial recognition. Conventional 2D facial image recognition technologies typically compare registered 2D facial image data with live 2D facial image data. This can lead to unstable matching results due to the deviation in environmental conditions (such as light and posture) when the images are captured. This has been a huge barrier to accurate personal identification to date. The new NEC 3D facial recognition algorithm, has not only solved this problem, but also succeeded in achieving greater accuracy under severe environmental conditions.

Apart from Fiore, NEC will also showcase a whole suite of the latest state-of-the-art biometrics solutions such as the Automatic Border Control (ABC) System which replaces the manual immigration clearance process with a more efficient and secure system, thereby eliminating human error while heightening security significantly. The automated operation uses a hybrid biometric authentication – NEC Facial Recognition and NEC Finger Identification - to reduce a previously 15-minute process of immigration clearance to mere seconds with the highest accuracy achievable today. The ABC System also offers immigration authorities the added advantage of re-deploying limited resources to other important functions.

The ABC system will soon be implemented in Singapore and integrated with a highly secured electronic passport (ePassport) as NECSAP was recently awarded Singapore’s first biometric passport project, Singapore Biometric Passport, by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) on 21 Mar 2005. A citizen of Singapore can soon be issued with an ePassport that contains his/her facial and fingerprint information and personalised data in a smart chip embedded within the passport. This makes it possible for the traveller’s identity to be verified by biometric means at any country’s border in the future.

All a traveler needs to do is to proceed to the automatic clearance gate, insert his ePassport and have his/her fingerprint and facial image captured for authentication. Upon scanning the ePassport, the ABC System performs checks for different security features that are present in the passport under different lighting conditions (eg. hologram of crest under UV light). Once access is granted, the traveller collects the ePassport and easily moves through the gates easily. The whole process takes mere seconds. NECSAP is the prime contractor and its fellow consortium partners are NCS Pte Ltd, Singapore National Printers, Gemplus, Setec OY and Muelbauer.

Said Mr. Tan Boon Chin, Senior Vice President, Systems Integration Group, NEC Solutions Asia Pacific, “As a global market leader of world-class biometric identification solutions for the past 30 years, NEC has always been a pioneer and innovator of the latest biometrics security solutions for large-scale implementation in 27 countries spanning Japan, Asia and Europe. We are pleased to have the opportunity of showcasing our latest suite of biometrics security solutions and expertise in market implementation to the Asia Pacific security, intelligence and defence communities at Global Security Asia 05.”

NECSAP offers complete turnkey solutions comprising dynamic configuration that takes care of all immigration aspects:

- Servers Management (Database Functions & Law Enforcement Screening Functions, eg. Blacklist)
- Automatic Gate Control
- Monitoring & Control
- Mobile Control
- Manual Control (a fall-back plan)

Note 1: In 2000, NEC announced an accuracy matching rate of 96.1% out of a database of 42 registered people.
The achievement of 24 times better accuracy refers to tests (72,000 trials) carried out on a database of registered 3D images of 1,000 people which yielded a 96.5% identification matching rate, even under very severe environmental conditions that caused changes in illumination and posturing.

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of 4,855 billion yen (approx. $45 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005. For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com

About NEC Solutions Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
A wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, NEC Solutions Asia Pacific is a leading information technology services provider with core competencies spanning the entire range of systems integration and consultancy services. This includes world-class identity solutions, turnkey implementation of mission-critical solutions, project management, and regional systems support and maintenance services. As the NEC regional hub for systems integration in South Asia , the company also supports sales and services in South Asia including and for systems integration. NEC Solutions Asia Pacific is the first recipient of the Singapore Economic Development Board's International Headquarters Award.

The company's suite of solutions and services covers Systems Integration, Identity Solutions, RFID Solutions, Financial Solutions, Retail Management Solutions, Managed Services and Outsourcing Centre, Manufacturing Business Solutions, Enterprise Resource Planning, Imaging and Workflow Solutions, Enterprise Information Portals and Knowledge Management, NECare Service Centre, Enterprise Servers, Network Solutions and Multimedia Products. Visit http://www.nec.com.sg