Darn Racist Cameras

[Big Nick]

I found this article today about Nikon and its facial recognition software in their point and shoot cameras and thought it was pretty funny.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/2010012...08599195464300

[BabetteKD]

There was a similar blog post about HP's 'racist' webcams (the camera couldn't follow an african american male). It's really they didn't have the settings right. I've tried these in the store with different people.

[Big Nick]

Originally Posted by BabetteKD

There was a similar blog post about HP's 'racist' webcams (the camera couldn't follow an african american male). It's really they didn't have the settings right. I've tried these in the store with different people.

There is something in this article about that. The persons comments about that are quite funny.

[Raoul Isidro]

Face recognition, which is great for security protection at major transport terminals such as airports, can throw up a few quirky incidents in other applications. One fun website compares your portrait to about 5 or 6 famous celebrities and Hollywood stars. I forgot the name, but someone might be able to give the link... it's freakin' fun

[Big Nick]

I think part of the problem is that they require very complex algorithms and in applications with smaller devices is that they do not process and compensate well enough for a lot of variation. Just not enough processing power. But we have come a log way considering our cell phones can pretty much process as much information as the computers that were used on the spaceships that put us on the moon.

[spencer28n]

Great article. What's more interesting is how quickly digital camera technology has emerged and how far it's progressing. Also, the estimate is that consumer technology lags 10 years behind military technology.
Now if only they made it to work at airports and other transportational terminals, so it can save lives. Then I will be impressed.

[douglas]

Originally Posted by Raoul Isidro

Face recognition, which is great for security protection at major transport terminals such as airports, can throw up a few quirky incidents in other applications. One fun website compares your portrait to about 5 or 6 famous celebrities and Hollywood stars. I forgot the name, but someone might be able to give the link... it's freakin' fun

I think the site is
MyHeritage.com face recognition - Find the Celebrity in You - MyHeritage.com

[OsmosisStudios]

The "problem" with darker skin tones is contrast: there isnt enough between the highlights and shadows. So the camera doesnt "see" the differentiation. Hence the "racism"

There's another excellent Ad for the coolpix face detection...

[RLucas]

Osmosis, That is funny! It took me a second or two to see all the brackets.

[Digidave]

Originally Posted by RLucas

Osmosis, That is funny! It took me a second or two to see all the brackets.

Brackets??