Nasal recognition system
Scanning noses could be a quick and easy way to verify a person’s identity, according to scientists at Bath University.
Unlike other facial features used for biometrics, such as eyes or ears, noses are difficult to conceal and are not changed much by facial expression.
To investigate whether images of people’s noses could be used to recognise individuals, Dr Adrian Evans and Adrian Moorhouse, from the university’s Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, used a photographic system called PhotoFace to scan the 3D shape of volunteers’ noses and used computer software to analyse them according to six main nose shapes: Roman, Greek, Nubian, Hawk, Snub and Turn-up.
Instead of using the whole shape of the nose, the researchers used three characteristics in their analysis: the ridge profile, the nose tip and the nasion - the section between the eyes at the top of the nose.
They combined the curvature of the ridge with the ratios of the tip and nasion widths and ridge length. This combined ratio was then used to distinguish between a database of 36 people.
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