Retail stores can use NEC technology to conduct facial recognition

NEC Hong Kong is currently developing a new facial recognition technology that can be used by stores, hotels, and other retail establishments to quickly identify customers. Retailers have tried to use smartphones to help monitor customer activity, especially if guests log onto free, open Wi-Fi hotspots, though customers found ways to disable such features.

When most people think of facial recognition, it's in regards to security and possible privacy issues - but NEC and companies have a more unique reasoning behind why stores, hotels, and other establishments might want to adopt the technology:

"Everyone loves to feel special. That's why any organization that can greet a customer by name and start helping them the minute they walk in to a shop, bank or hotel will have a tremendous advantage over one that relies on ID cards or other impersonal procedures," said Elsa Wong, NEC Hong Kong Managing Director, in a press statement.