Nowadays, smartphones can be seen unlocked by using a face. Businesses and buildings are also shifting towards allowing access by recognizing faces. But it seems rare to make payments by using your face, isn’t it? AI has now gone a long way in managing payments by using facial features.
Besides, there is no need to take the card and cash out of the wallets to pay, the person only needs to look into the camera for facial authentication and the face will be scanned by the sensors to make a payment. It is a fast and convenient method gaining fame in retail stores, online shopping, and even in public transport. It usually works by following steps such as capture, analysis, matching, and verification.
Evolution of Payment Methods
Payment methods can be seen as evolving. It probably started with goods, coins, and other ways. Here is a brief history of how the payment methods enhanced over time:
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Pre-Digital Era
A thousand years ago, people used to buy goods and services by exchanging physical money. In this case, it might be difficult to manage money because there would be more chances of theft.
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Late 1800s – Early 1900s
It was a time when people started making payments by using checks for goods and services. It was a bit evolved method of payment.
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Mid 1900s
It was a time when payments were made through debit and credit cards. By using credit cards, people can borrow money from banks and make purchases while by debit card the money can be withdrawn directly from the user’s account.
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2000s – Present Times
With the evolution of shopping methods, payment methods also evolved. Online shopping requires online payments which can be made by using a plethora of apps like PayPal, bank accounts, JazzCash, and many others. The digital era has introduced methods that can make payments with a click. It is the most convenient and fastest way to pay.
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2020s – Future
The previous method is also risky to some extent because one might face theft while transacting money using cards. But face payment is emerging and many of the institutions are shifting to this method. It can be done by just looking into the camera and the sensors will detect the face and the face is ready to make payment.
How Does This Technology Work?
The facial recognition payment system works exactly the way the facial biometric system works. The system captures the image of a person and analyzes it. It compares the face with the existing database for verification. Once the template is verified, the person gets access or can make a payment.
Moreover, after capturing the face using infrared sensors, the face is evaluated in terms of the distance between nose and mouth, the distance between eyes, jawline measurement, and other features. The system converts these features into a digital code called ‘faceprint’. This faceprint is then compared to others present in the existing database for further verification.
Integration of A Face With The Payment Systems
Before making payments, the face needs to be registered in the system. The Point of Sale (POS) systems, are used by businesses to receive payments from customers.
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Hardware Implementation
Businesses set a hardware devices containing a 3D camera for facial recognition. It is incorporated in easy-to-access places for the users where they are required to verify their faces for further proceedings.
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Software Integration
When a person appears in front of the POS terminal, it automatically compares the identity with the customer’s payment processing software and verifies the legitimate user.
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Payment Verification
After face verification and finding the match, the system allows the user to make a payment. Otherwise, the access will be denied and the system will demand another verification from the user.
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Security Measures
Face payment systems are incorporated with an additional layer of security and often include encryption and multi-factor authentication for better proceedings.
Conclusion
Face recognition is not just confined to biometric systems but has also advanced significantly in making payments. With liveness detection technology, AI ensures the authenticity of users, reducing the risk of fraud. This enhancement, along with other AI-driven innovations, introduces several new ways to make transactions easier, quicker, and more convenient according to user demands. Despite challenges and limitations, this technology promises continued growth, transforming the transaction experience.
