Russian engineers, dealing with generation and processing of three-dimension images, developed a device, which is aimed at raising computer’s protection level from any kind of unauthorized access. Moreover, this miraculous device doesn’t require any passwords. Said development is a tiny though very “smart” three-dimensional camera. This camera scans about one cubic meter in front of a monitor and forwards information via USB-port to a computer, and specially developed software analyzes this information almost immediately. In other words, this software creates two-dimensional and three-dimensional face models and identifies a user according its database – the programme switches the computer on, if the user has access to it. In case of “denied access” the computer remains switched off. Moreover, if a stranger only comes close to this computer, 3D camera will initiate a process of reducing all open windows to icons in order to prevent information from being stolen.

How does this interesting device work? Tiny camera continuously scans workplace in front of a computer, “recognizes” familiar face and sends images to special software, installed on this computer. Experts recommend using this software on dual-core computers, however, ordinary personal computer with single processor will also do, since programme doesn’t’ require much space on a hard drive.

Identification process is not very complicated and is based upon recognizing two images of a user. First image is an ordinary two-dimensional coloured photograph, however, camera takes it very quickly (at a speed of 25 shots per second), and the image has high resolution. As for the second picture, which is a three-dimensional image of user’s face, the camera makes it with the help of 40 thousand dots, and location of each dot is determined within 0.6 millimeter.

Then identification procedure, based upon comparison of abovementioned images with computer database of permitted users, is following: when software finds correspondence of new images with a registered user with permitted access to this computer, it switches the machine on and off you go. All a user needs in order to log in his computer is occupying his working place and giving a short glance to the display. In case the camera detects a stranger, sitting in front of the monitor, the user won’t be logged on. Described procedure is much more convenient than entering numerous passwords, which could be stolen or forgotten.

Authors call their development “ultra-compact”; however, we’d better use here term “pocket-size”, since the camera is a pyramid with 16x16 cm bottom, weighing 400 grams. Honestly speaking, we cannot overestimate advantages of such protection system. A stranger won’t be able to enter a computer, equipped with such a smart camera, and surf the internet on it, and what is more, he will never see what’s happening on the display, if he doesn’t use a binocular.

Source:
     Science & Technology
Kizilova Anna