Sony developed cameras with 3D sensors and depth sensing technology that promise to exceed today’s methods of facial recognition. In this sense, the company reported that it plans to increase production of these depth sensors to meet demand.
According to Bloomberg, Satoshi Yoshihara, head of Sony’s sensor division, said the company plans to increase production of depth measurement chips by the end of summer 2019.
Sony depth measurement sensors are the company’s solution for 3D facial recognition
According to Yoshihara, the 3D sensor displays pulses of optical lasers that generate a depth map of the face and create detailed models of the user’s face that differ greatly from the dot matrix currently implemented in facial recognition technologies such as the Apple Face ID.
In addition, the director ensures that the sensor is capable of detecting up to five meters away.
“The cameras have revolutionized the phones and, from what I’ve seen, I have the same expectation of 3D,” Yoshihara said.
“The pace will vary depending on the area, but we will definitely see the introduction of 3D. I’m sure it will,” he explained.
The department head told the source that the production of chips for the power supply of the front and rear 3D cameras is expected to increase in late summer to meet the demand of several smartphone manufacturers.
Blomberg also noted that Sony provides external developers with software toolkits to test the chips and create applications that generate models of faces or virtual objects for online shopping.
Face recognition technology has been used for several years in various terminals, not only in the high-end segment such as the Apple iPhone but also in the mid-range segment.
However, this is not entirely certain, as several cases of terminals have been reported that were bypassed simply by displaying a photo of the user. This is what Sony wants to avoid by relying on a much more accurate and secure technology that only has to wait until late summer when the company said it would start selling these new sensors.