Monday, October 29, 2018

China Testing "Gait Analysis" As Biometric Surveillance Tool

From the Asia Times:

Gait analysis in trial runs in Beijing, Shanghai, Xinjiang
Beijing-based tech firm a pioneer in applying gait analysis to tracking down suspects 
At a time when 3D-printed masks and faked fingerprints made with tools as low-tech as transparent film can potentially fool security and authentication systems built with these biometric recognition features, a Chinese tech firm has come up with a more secure, apparently “un-fakable” solution: gait analysis.

Beijing-based Watrix has rolled out a unique gait-recognition algorithm that, when incorporated into China’s ubiquitous closed-circuit television cameras, can search for targets to help public-security authorities identify and track down suspects.

The system can analyze in real time people’s posture as they walk past a CCTV camera and track targets for at least 50 meters.

Like a person’s face and fingerprints, his gait is unique and is almost impossible to be faked or mimicked by anyone else.

With powerful machine learning, the Watrix system can analyze anyone’s gait and spontaneously establish a profile so he can be identified instantly the next time he is caught on any CCTV camera.
As a systematic study of human body movements, body mechanics, and the activities of muscles, gait analysis first emerged in the medical and sports professions.

A basic gait analysis encompasses a host of perimeters and factors including step length, stride length, cadence, speed, dynamic base, progression line, foot angle, hip angle, and squat performance....MORE