Walk like a criminal?

Jul 14, 2006 2:36 PM

Criminals could soon find walking into trouble is far too easy, thanks to new British technology that can pinpoint a suspect from the way they move, according to London's Mail on Sunday.
Scientists at Southampton University are pioneering research into identifying suspects by their gait -- which, like DNA, is unique to each person using computer analysis of CCTV images.
"I've had short-sighted people tell me that they recognize people from the way they walk," Professor Mark Nixon, who is heading the research team, says. "This technology will recognize those distinct characteristics we all have but are probably unaware of."
The Southampton University team is researching Automatic Gait Recognition (AGR), examining the 'signature' we all create by the way we move our limbs as we walk, to pinpoint a suspect beyond legal doubt.
"Gait recognition could have significant implications for the police," Nixon says. "If someone is going to rob a bank, for example, they will try to waltz in and appear natural. Either that or they will run in. In both of those cases they will use their natural motion."

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.

This month in Access Control

• Targeting The Customer
• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue