NEC Begins Test Of Biometric Payment System

TOKYO -- NEC Corp. is testing its facial-recognition system at small shops inside the company's corporate headquarters in Tokyo. The trials are being conducted through the end of August as a part of NEC's initiative to apply its biometrics authentication technologies to a range of services. If successful, the tests will prove another step forward in demonstrating the viability of the technology and its eventual use in retail, as well as at ATMs and vending machines.

"This trial will enable us to improve technological performance and to accumulate knowledge towards the commercialization of facial authentication-based payment services, thereby helping NEC to enhance FinTech services and ensure greater safety and security," said NEC senior vice-president Fumiaki Matsubara.

The payment service under test uses the company's NeoFace facial-recognition technologies that incorporate NEC's own facial-recognition algorithm. The system verifies identity by matching pre-registered facial images against images taken by a camera installed near a point-of-sale terminal. This enables retailers to offer shoppers payment services without using cash or credit cards.

During this initial trial, NEC will analyze authentication performance and operational workload under a wide range of conditions that vary by types of cameras in use, installation position, lighting, balance between security and convenience and other real-world factors.

In April, NEC launched a large-scale trial of its "Walkthrough Facial Recognition System" at its head office. This biometrics system is capable of recognizing people in motion using facial-recognition technology without the need for the subjects to stop in front of the camera. These cashless payment trials are the second round in NEC's efforts to promote its biometrics authentication technologies.