As of lately, the buzz has been all about facial recognition technology that is making its way into different industries and potentially easing the way that things were done before. With the introduction of the Iphone X, this became the new hype and one of those topics that everyone was fascinated about. There are also reports of payment gateways set up to release payment with this technology, cutting down that risk of fraudulent attempts. Although this has been going around for a while, certain people still question it accuracy, especially with the YouTube videos going around, of twin siblings unlocking each other’s phones with their faces. Although those are questions for the techies to discover, let’s find out its potential usage in the contexts of HR with a few pros and cons of that possibility.
More than just a face capture
When you hear the word facial recognition, the first thing you probably think about is Facebook when you get suggestions of the friends in a picture to tag. Technology has travelled far beyond that to the point where it unlocks devices and authenticates payments with greater accuracy and affectivity. Facebook was just the tip of the iceberg. According to Forbes, the new Face ID on IPhone X works by using 30,000 infrared dots that map the face. It is only activated if the user is looking directly at it with eyes open. With a false positive rate of one in a million, beating that of the thumbprint that which had a false positive rate of one in fifty thousand. This new technology can make even the simplest sign in to work seem cooler.
Everything under lock and key?
Let’s just say that with this technology it will be hard to get into information on your phone, without your face. So many would question its potential in being used to secure critical information. Not just HR but the entire organisation will benefit from that, if and when that happens. Since this technology is in its initial stages of entering into the tech world, its uses are limited. Brands like Apple and Samsung are still in the process of venturing into the possibilities of its usage and fixing threats that may tamper with its security. It’s not bullet proof yet, but it’s getting there. The technology however has opened gateways to other brands in the industry to venture into the possible avenues of integrating it further for the more complicated or professional use. This is a future possibility that could be a reality very soon.
HR with facial recognition technology?
It’s not a definite no, but a maybe. Mainly because there are many risks involved, that may harm or tamper the security elements of an organisation as a whole. There is still a possibility of someone holding up a picture of the authorised person to get in, which could pose a threat to the entire operation. With the entrance of HRIS, human resources opened up to many avenues and possibilities in the technology sphere, big data, machine learning, gamification, and analytics became topics vastly discussed. This could be one of those for the entire business world, not limiting just to HR. Although the uncertainties outweigh the positive outcomes that make it a potential for the moment. Although the hope still stands strong that the next few years will change it all as the technology advances.
New technology comes in with that ultimate wow factor that makes it the most attractive new thing to make everything much easier. Although when analysed closely, new comes with a risk. Change comes with a price, and jumping right in is never the right move. It is always good to step back and ponder the benefits, need, cost and most importantly how employees would associate it, to accurately understand the necessity of its use. Caution in this context should also go into the misuse of biometric information and the risk of misuse in general. Facial recognition made a smooth entrance, with devices, but it may or may not be the same for the workplace. A technology to consider and a few thoughts to think about before jumping right in!
