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Howdy – Windows Hello style facial authentication for Linux

(github.com)
73 points LorenDB | 2 comments | 23 Jun 25 18:34 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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bsimpson ◴[26 Jun 25 09:55 UTC] No.44385795[source]▶
I know there was extensive testing when face recognition authentication came to smartphones. I wonder how an open source project like this one compares. I suspect there are substantially more false positives/negatives than on a commercially developed version that needs to support everyone to be successful.
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e-topy ◴[26 Jun 25 10:20 UTC] No.44385935[source]▶
Apple's Face ID uses what is essentially a 3D camera, a simple 2D color camera cannot compare to that in terms of accuracy.
replies(3): >>44387264 #>>44387402 #>>44387499 #
aniviacat ◴[26 Jun 25 13:48 UTC] No.44387402[source]▶
AFAIK Pixel phones, including the Pixel 9, only use 2D images for face unlock. So it's definitely possible to reach mainstream quality with conventional cameras.

(Unless you'd argue that the face unlock found on Pixels is not passable either)

replies(1): >>44389269 #
1. MengerSponge ◴[26 Jun 25 17:11 UTC] No.44389269[source]▶
I don't know how Google does it, but it's possible to extract 3d information from a 2d sensor. You either need a variable focus or phase detection in the sensor.
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2. westurner ◴[27 Jun 25 02:31 UTC] No.44393257[source]▶
It is possible to infer phase from second order intensity via the Huygens-Steiner theorem for rigid body rotation, FWIU: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42663342 .. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37226121#37226160

Doesn't that mean that any camera can be used to infer phase (and thus depth for face ID, which is a high risk application)?

> variable focus

A light field camera (with "infinite" focus) would also work.