Criminals might have a more difficult time in the future: Cameras with face recognition (FR) technology will be able to identify them instantly.

At the 2005 International Forensic Science Equipment Exhibition, which opened Wednesday at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing, Sinocome, a Chinese company, demonstrated its FR system.

Sinocome President Ma Xin said the system would greatly enhance Chinese police's ability to trace suspects.

The system can be fixed in busy areas open to the general public, such as airports, railway stations, subways, stadiums or in private places such as residential communities or office buildings.

The system's surveillance camera takes instant photos of everyone who passes the lens and sends them to a database for processing and authentication.

All the work will be done within seconds, and if a suspect is detected, a siren will sound.

The system can also be used with a mobile phone containing an FR chip.

A police officer can take a suspect's photo and send a picture message to the database and receive answers in several seconds.

Ma said the company, which made its breakthrough last year, has full intellectual property rights on the technology.

Police in 10 provinces have begun using the device and the Ministry of Public Security plans to create a national database of criminal suspects, said Ma.

An expert on 2008 Beijing Olympic Games security issues, Ma said the device will probably be used during the Games.

"FR technology is the most advanced means of authentication so far because it is non-contact, very efficient and without intrusion or delay," he added.

Face recognition is superior to fingerprint recognition because fingerprints can be duplicated or spoilt.

Face recognition is very difficult to fool, Ma said.

The approach works by comparing facial features - specific proportions, bone structures and angles that cannot easily be concealed by beards, eyeglasses or makeup.

Technological advances by other leading companies will also be on display at the exhibition, which was organized by the Ministry of Public Security.

The exhibition will continue until Saturday. About 100 busineses worldwide displayed their products.

Source: China Daily