London: British scientists have found a new
weapon in the fight against international terrorism -- the
human nose.
Experts at the University of Bath have developed a new
technology to read the unique shapes of each nose and claimed
it could help identify Illegal immigrants, terrorists and
criminals.
The technology -- a high-tech scanner known as the
PhotoFace -- takes four flash-lit photographs of a person`s
nose lit in rapid succession from several different angles.
The nasal images are then analysed according to six main
shapes, Roman, Greek, Nubian, Hawk, Snub and Turn-up.
Each nose is then further tested by computer software to
analyse its profile, the tip, and the nasion ? the top of the
nose where it meets the eye line, the Telegraph reported.
Dr Adrian Evans, who conducted the research, said
scanning noses could be an easier way to verify an identity
than iris and fingerprint scans.
"There`s no one magic biometric. Irises are a powerful
biometric, but can be difficult to capture accurately and can
easily be obscured by eyelids or glasses," he said.
"Noses, however, are much easier to photograph and are
harder to conceal, so a system that recognises noses would
work better with an uncooperative subject or for covert
surveillance."
PTI
