The Physics of Light
Camera sensors capture light reflected from human faces. As distance increases, the amount of light reaching the sensor decreases exponentially, following the inverse square law.
Distance Amplifies Differences
At 12 meters, facial features begin to blur. Dark skin absorbs more light, reflecting less back to the sensor. This physics creates systematic recognition failures.
Sensor Limitations
Modern sensors struggle with low-light conditions. When combined with distance, the photon deficit becomes critical - especially for darker skin tones that reflect less light.
The 30-Meter Problem
At 30 meters, recognition accuracy drops to 25%. The physics is immutable: insufficient photons mean insufficient data. This isn't bias - it's the fundamental limit of light.
