Addressing the Accessibility Gap in Biometric Security: A Low-Cost, Open-Source Approach for High-Risk Environments
Journal
Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Artificial Intelligence in HCI
Date Issued
2026
Author(s)
Vargas-Bustamante, Miguel
García-Muñoz, Gabriel
Álvarez-Tello, Jorge
Type
Book chapter
Abstract
Facial recognition has become established as a key technology for access control in high-insecurity contexts; however, its adoption in resource-constrained environments remains limited. This study addresses the existing gap in the empirical validation of low-cost biometric systems deployed in real-world scenarios. A prototype access control system based on facial recognition was developed using low-cost embedded hardware and open-source software. The research followed a quantitative, experimental, and applied approach, evaluating system performance using standardized biometric metrics (accuracy, FAR, and FRR) under different environmental conditions. The system achieved 97% accuracy in authorized access attempts and 96% accuracy in unauthorized attempts, with an average latency of 1.8 s and complete resistance to basic spoofing attacks. The results demonstrate that low-cost biometric solutions can achieve acceptable levels of reliability and usability for access control in high-insecurity contexts, contributing to the democratization of technological security