Facial Recognition
Ohio Wesleyan Student Creates Prototype to Allow Touchless Access to College Dorms
Name: Aryaa Subedi '27
Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand, and Kathmandu, Nepal
High School: Wellington Girls College
Majors: Computer Science and Data Analytics
OWU Connection Experience: During fall semester, Subedi worked with Mehwish Abbasi, Ph.D., assistant professor of Data Analytics, on an independent research project designed to modernize dormitory access.
Using facial recognition technology, Subedi developed a prototype that recognizes the faces of students to enable dormitory access without the need for a key or an ID card. She has worked with several Ohio Wesleyan students to train her model on their faces.
Conception
"[D]uring the summer, I did an internship with On Technology Partners, where I assisted with the initial research for the creation of a system for the Cleveland City Council to import about 150,000 images and use AI (artificial intelligence) to identify members, producing a public database. That was where the seed was planted for my project."
Why This Experience?
"This technology solves the universal headache of lost or forgotten keys, but the impact extends far beyond simple convenience. The system provides a completely touchless and hygienic way to enter your home and, perhaps most importantly, highlights how AI can drive inclusivity. For students with motor impairments, manipulating keys or card swipes can be a daily barrier that facial recognition removes instantly."
It was exciting and rewarding to realize that something I had built could realistically be implemented in a dorm setting.
Favorite Moments
"My favorite moment was seeing the facial recognition model successfully detect and verify a user for the first time. That was the point where the project shifted from being just code and theory to something tangible and functional. It was exciting and rewarding to realize that something I had built could realistically be implemented in a dorm setting."
Lessons Learned
"This experience taught me how to bridge theoretical concepts from the classroom with applied problem-solving. I directly applied concepts from what I had learned in my machine learning class that I was also taking that semester, while also learning how to think critically about a practical system.
"Beyond technical skills, I learned the importance of designing with users in mind. Thinking about accessibility, hygiene, and inclusivity pushed me to consider perspectives beyond my own. This work aligns closely with my future plans to work in data science or AI-related roles where technology intersects with human needs."
Project Future
"While the current project is a completed research prototype, it is not the end of the work. There are many opportunities for future development, including improving accuracy, addressing privacy concerns, and exploring real-world deployment challenges.
"I am interested in continuing this line of research and refining the system further, especially with a focus on ethical AI implementation and accessibility. This project has laid a strong foundation for future research and has shaped how I approach technology-driven solutions moving forward."
My OWU Mentor
"Dr. Abbasi. She guided me with her valuable and kind mentorship during the research that I had to complete before I started building the prototype and then with building the model. (Abbasi joined Ohio Wesleyan in 2024 and also serves as director of the Data Analytics Program. Her expertise and research interests include machine learning, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.)
Campus Involvements
"[I am] an active member of the OWU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Student Board, treasurer of Bishops Make Tech, secretary of the Computer Science and Programming Club, secretary of Data Circle, on and off member of Orchesis and Terpsicorps (the dance club in the fall and spring semester, respectively). I'm a Residential Advisor, and I work at Information Services on campus. I used to work at Career Connection as a peer career coach and at the Admission Office as a tour guide."
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
"I chose to attend Ohio Wesleyan because I have interests beyond my major and wanted a liberal arts education that would allow me to explore them. The personal, close-knit feel of OWU really stood out to me and ultimately sealed the decision."
Plans After Graduation
"After graduation, I plan to leverage the skills I've developed through my coursework and OWU Connection experiences to contribute to work that creates meaningful social impact."