There is a growing debate around the application of non-contact physical security – ‘frictionless’ as it is being described, writes John Allen, pictured, Business Development Manager Access Control at Axis Communications.
The reasoning includes the quicker processing of people, securely, into and out of managed buildings and places, as well as the emerging requirement for distancing and avoiding contact with surfaces – keypads being a good example, but including RFID and fingerprint biometric readers at locations such as mass transit entry-exit points. At its apex, a frictionless experience would likely be a completely contactless movement of people into and through a secured layer effectively and efficiently. There are already rapid process-movement solutions, usually applied through entrance control systems; however, there is a growing call for even less friction in the process, using face recognition technologies in access control applications and replacing the RFID reader.
Partner solutions
Such systems are in use already; CCTech has released its very successful face recognition product ‘CleverAccess’ which improves traditional access control to offer alternative credentials and, being a mobile phone app with self-enrolment, does not present the privacy issues associated with face recognition in public areas. Another partner, Total Security, uses secure QR codes in a cloud service. This enables frictionless access control in unmanned storage applications and is now reaching a wider audience for physical security. Frictionless also plays a part with other solutions from Axis partners including Doordeck and their own version of access control in co-working and co-living spaces, with applications using QR codes to manage doors and users across site and country-wide door and I/O sensors using a frictionless design and simple deployment method.
Shopping experience
Consider the retail industry. As it struggles to recover from the pandemic, the already innovative autonomous shopping experience is surely a very likely contender which can help retailers recover and even become more effective in their operations. The adoption of smart devices in physical security is opening opportunities for new and innovative access control solutions, including alternatives to the traditional access control identity card, which have the potential to add value and widen the options for users.
Alternative credentials
QR codes: ID cards, with QR reading via cameras in IP Intercoms or in dedicated IP security cameras, have proven to be able to extend security at low costs and ease our way into the GDPR compliant world of visitor management.
Facial recognition: already used, these systems use standard IP cameras with managed scene environments to offer accurate and reliable access control. Face recognition in access control is an accepted alternative to RFID, and as processing power grows, edge-based solutions also get closer and the camera processing power could result in capture / image process capability in the camera itself, leading to lower costs, faster decision making and a lighter architecture without servers. Access control using facial recognition is not the same as facial recognition in public spaces and, importantly, the processing of personal data must comply with GDPR to protect integrity and security. Smaller applications, such as in kindergartens and schools become an option. And with lower purchase and no ID card costs it becomes an option to traditional access control. We anticipate this to be particularly attractive in hosted services.
Voice activation: The elevation of a novel way to communicate and access music is morphing into a home tool to provide voice activated intrusion detection; we anticipate a market for voice encrypted credentials, albeit starting in niche applications.
Frictionless in an uncertain future
What frictionless means takes on another meaning, and an urgency, where human interaction is important. New practices will emerge to reflect the need for less contact with others, while still enabling flow through entrance and exit points. In public area people ‘management’ in areas such as shopping centres, the application of intelligent data gathering will deliver improved solutions which are interactive in a more granular, responsive manner, made possible by sensors (cameras, analytics, condition lighting, intelligent PA systems), all working together and all based on cyber-hygienic, secure networked installations. Working practices are also likely to change, with out of office or home working and a review of traditional office space use. From the physical security and access control perspective it is certain to lead to a deeper discussion around security as significant numbers will still gather at work or leisure places, with the same risks from terrorism, but can we reduce the physical contact to make that ingress-egress work in a frictionless way? Certainly, many card and PIN operations have adjusted to card only, yet even then, there is the element of unwanted threat through contact.
New expectation
So frictionless can also mean contactless and may come to define a new expectation of buyers and users of access control. We are much more cautious of how close we should be to others; how will that affect mass transit points such as a ticket barrier and how might it impact on some of our traditional credential methods, card readers and especially keypads, but also contact biometrics? Will it impact the way we design buildings, where we might consider doors which allow opening either way, so they can be pushed by a shoulder or elbow?
In conclusion
So, can we offer a frictionless life? No, but with thought, imagination and a new interpretation of existing proven principles, there is the opportunity to create and deliver a frictionless security experience, or at least the beginnings of what a frictionless physical security experience should or might be.
Learn more about Axis solutions for today and tomorrow: visit:
www.axis-communications.com/industrysolutions
