In addition to spoken language, visual information plays a vital role in communication. Consequently, the combination of imagery and graphics has become tightly integrated within the field of information processing in recent years. In information technology, image processing and graphics occupy a paramount position because their compelling characteristics distinguish them from other domains.

The problem of facial recognition has been studied since the 1970s. However, as a complex challenge, current research has yet to yield desired results, leaving the topic an active focus of study for various research groups worldwide. In 2001, the Tampa Police Department installed a camera system equipped with facial recognition software in the Ybor City district—a nightlife hotspot—aiming to curb local crime rates. Yet, the initiative failed completely and was suspended in 2003 due to inefficiency, as individuals in the area wore masks and committed offenses without the cameras recognizing anyone. Boston's Logan Airport also enlisted volunteers for two separate facial recognition system tests at airport security checkpoints. After a three-month trial period, the results were disappointing; according to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the system achieved an accuracy rate of only 61.4%.

One approach to overcoming difficulties in biometric recognition and improving accuracy is using multi-biometrics combined with smart cards. Since 2008, several U.S. federal buildings have issued Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards containing digital fingerprint data. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), using PIV cards for biometric verification is fast while offering heightened protection against identity theft and impersonation. Under this system, employees entering a federal building insert their PIV card into a slot similar to an ATM, enter a PIN, and place a finger on a scanner for verification. Today, this security control technology has begun seeing widespread deployment globally across diverse product lines to serve various purposes and user bases.

In Vietnam, automated security control has achieved significant progress. Applying multi-biometric recognition combined with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology on embedded systems to security control systems is becoming increasingly practical, with broad application potential across socio-economic sectors. Meanwhile, developing and applying biometric-linked surveillance programs—specifically facial recognition—remains fragmented. Notable efforts include those by Le Hoang Thai and Pham The Bao's group at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Science (VNU-HCM); the Image Processing and Recognition Group at the Institute of Information Technology; Tien Phong Company (136 Tran Duy Hung, Cau Giay, Hanoi), specializing in security devices and solutions tied to biometric recognition; and IT WORKS Vietnam Company (157–159 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City).

The Image Processing and Recognition Group at the Institute of Information Technology developed a client/server-based human face recognition system for entry/exit control. However, as the software remains limited to 2D processing, it is susceptible to ambient lighting variations, achieving an accuracy rate of 80%—which, like most other facial detection software, is still insufficiently high for seamless real-world deployment. Separately, the Simulation and Systems Integration Laboratory under the IT Department of the General Department of Logistics and Engineering (Ministry of Public Security) achieved initial success in automated fingerprint identification by developing the C@FRIS product for practical application. Nevertheless, building a fully reliable automated fingerprint recognition system capable of feature extraction and high-accuracy matching at rapid processing speeds requires further technological refinement. Using multi-biometrics combined with identity cards remains a key strategy to enhance accuracy in biometric identification.

Recognizing these challenges, Duy Tan University (with the Center for Electrical Engineering - CEE as the primary executing unit) collaborated with the Key Laboratory of Network and Multimedia Technology (Institute of Information Technology) and the Simulation and Systems Integration Laboratory (Ministry of Public Security) to execute a Ministry-level Scientific Research Project: "Research and Development of a Security Control System Using Multi-Biometric Identification Technology Combined with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology on an Embedded System." Within the scope of this project, the authors were tasked with researching, designing, and constructing an embedded security control device integrating a camera, display screen, fingerprint scanner, and RFID card reader with capabilities aligned with the project's research objectives.