Facial recognition door lock shows huge potential of Windows 10 IoT Core

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

If you're looking for just a small glimpse at the possibilities enabled by Windows 10 in the Internet of Things (IoT), look no further than this door security prototype built by Microsoft researchers. The prototype security setup uses facial recognition as a security tool for locking and unlocking the door, only unlocking for authorized users. You can see the mechanism in action in the video below.

According to the video's description, it was built using Windows 10 IoT Core running on Intel's MinnowBoard Max, along with Microsoft's Project Oxford cloud computer vision service. While just a prototype and not ready for primetime, it's interesting to think about how useful this tech could be in something like the Ring Video Doorbell, for example.

If you're interested in seeing more IoT prototypes built using Windows 10 IoT Core, you can check out the dedicated Windows IoT YouTube channel.

Thanks to @Giffdev for the tip!

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

31 Comments
  • Or thumbscan to open the door... This stuff is starting to look like the movies :-)
  • I saw this already on back to the future. Edit: Maybe that was finger print reader but it did greet you.
  • I needed this on my clubhouse back in the 1980's.
  • Would love this got a Samsung system at the moment works well on windows phone :)
  • oh yeah, would you mind sharing with us the name of the Samsung device?
  • SmartThings
  • Thanks :)
  • I would also be using the Samsung Smart things hub if not for them dropping support for Chamberlain MyQ garagedoor openers.  I'm currently using the Vera system.  I haven't decided if I like it or not.
  • super cool!
  • If each IoT device counts toward the 1 billion goal and more companies get on board making stuff like this I still think the goal is reachable.
  • It would also make the goal pointless.
  • How? They're devices powered by Windows 10.
  • IoT devices do not have access to the Store, but run only one "app" AFAIK.
     
  • I wonder if it can tell the differnece between a real person and a picture?
  • I don't
  • Maybe not the version but a real sense camera can tell the difference even between twins Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I read the title as "fatal recognition" and I was trying to figure out why it would kill someone.
  • Fatalities would be an optional upgrade I would imagine.
  • I have exactly the same question.
  • Windows Hello can so this probably can too.
  • Cool!
  • Posted 11 months ago?
  • Meh. Iris scan takes far longer than finger print...as the Lumia 950 series demonstrates so well.
  • Yes, but its almost "instant" on the Surface Pro 4. Its just seemingly badly implemented on the 950 (i always enter my pin) IF they can make the phone act like the Surface it will be very good. Otherwse they should drop it in favour of a finger print reader.
  • The Surface Pro 4 works quickly because it's a facial recognition system, not Iris, where the 950 is iris. I think that given what it does the 950 is pretty fast, but not fast enough to compete with finger print. I don't know why they didn't shoot for facial like the SP4.
  • The S7 has something like this as well, but maybe people started wanting something other than fingerprint reader after MS broke the ice
  • I'm getting one of these as soon as they're available commercially and my girl is going to punch me square in the face. And it will be worth it. Unless she punches me in the face after it's already calibrated and then we can't get inside. 
  • Since it's controlled by Windows, will the door turn blue everytime it's locked up?
  • And iPhone owners were getting scared somebody would cut off their fingers :p
  • Neat, Not sure I would use this for my front door as the only source to get in but, in the future it could be more solid. Nice proof of concept...
  • so wondering if the future solution would associate with Windows hello , which is way beyond just a facial, but iris, finger prints or combined.