Computer Vision App Keeps Emoticons Honest

Auto Smiley is computer vision software that detects when you smile into your webcam, and then sends a corresponding smiley face to your computer. The emoticon will pop up in the front-most application, such as a chat window. The app promises to flood your chats with even more unnecessary emoticons; let’s hope LOL and ROFL computer vision isn’t next.

What Not to Wear...To the Airport

In commemoration of Easter, check out the FAA's version of "Easter eggs." My favorite has got to be the snakes, if only for the obvious "Snakes on a Plane" jokes!

Police Slog Through Party Pics to Solve Case

I am not sure which will be the bigger crimefighting tool in the end. 3VR? Or, Twitter?

Meet Cincinnati's "Super" Heroes

With only his bare hands, some pepper spray, and a poorly fitting luchadores mask, Shadow Hare, a 21 year old man from Milford, Ohio, leads a group he calls the Allegiance of Heroes. For the past 4 years, he's patrolled the streets of Cincinatti, fighting crime.


My favorite quote from Shadow Hare:

He surely won't recognize us...because he's blind. But, I am sure he will recognize the taste of a good meal.

Shadow Hare, and his Allegiance of Heroes, is not the only costumed crime fighter out there, however. You can find many more in the World Superhero Registry.

Curious about the secret identity of the enigmatic Mr. Focus? I'll never tell.

Robobugs Do Surveillance

Via YouTube:

The following is derived from a promotionalvideo from BAE Systems, a Europeandefence contractor. It depicts the use of robotic bugs for surveillance in an urban terrorist scenario.

The person who posted this video seemed pretty upset by it. But, in the end, it's really just a computer generated imagining. Not really that scary. Now if it were an actual live action shot...or maybe if the robotic insects had little bit more hair and sported some ominous fangs.

That would be scary.

Real Life Shoe Phone…and Other Spy Gadgets

Found this great site on the history of spy gadgets. Check it out.


http://www.coolbuzz.org/evolution/evolution-of-spy-gadgets/

Dating with Biometrics

Thanks to my friend Pamela for forwarding this comic from the Abtruse Goose!

Ouch.

Every Step You Take, Someone (Or Something) Will Be Watching You

Just came across this feature on wireless surveillance cameras taking on some unusual forms around the industry.

A teddy bear that captures video through its left eye? Cameras in such innocuous household items as a boombox, a set of computer speakers, or a wall clock? An air purifier capable of 420 lines of resolution? They all exist. Even jacket buttons and Clorox Bleach wipe containers are now capable of carrying cameras!

Next time you're snooping around a friend's house or checking out their medicine cabinet, you might want to think twice before whether the mantle clock or Pringles can might be catching you in the act.

Cheerleaders Demo Face Rec

From InfoSync:

"Face Recognition" is the next wave of visage-geared technology, and who better to demonstrate Panasonic's latest phenomenon than three Miami Dolphins cheerleaders? Though it was a nearly insurmountable task to remain focused, we were able to extract the general concept behind Face Recognition.

Somehow, I don't think Ariana has any trouble with people remembering her name.

Pole Dancing Surveillance Robots!

In London, often referred to as the most surveilled city in the world, the cameras really are everywhere:


"Hey Buddy, my lens is up here."

Via BBC

iPhoto Offers Face Rec for Cats...Not Dogs

Via Maclife:

A huge disappointment for pet owners, was word that iPhoto's newest feature,
Faces, wouldn't recognize animals according to Apple employees on the show
floor. We even did a few tests at Macworld Expo with images they had of the dog
Luce. Well, we are happy to say that we were able to get iPhoto to recognize
Robbie's Cat, Lola.

Poncho will not be happy.

Furry Thief Attempts Five-Fingered (or should we say Four-Legged) Discount

He's not your typical bank robber:

Merry Christmas Drivers!

Santas helpers came early this year with a special gift for Tempe, AZ Drivers:



Hopefully these gift-givers will visit San Francisco next. Merry Christmas!

Face Swapping 2.0 - Now Mostly Prettier

In July, I made a post regarding new technology from Columbia University that swapped faces in photos and videos with generic amalgems drived from a photo database. The technique, which had potential privacy benefits...and even certain Hollywood applications...suffered from one major drawback. The modified faces were really really really ugly.

See below (From Columbia University Research Paper):



Tough to stomach, I know, but these results were bound to be approved someday, and thankfully that day is here. The New York Times is reporting that computer scientists in Israel have taken a more beauty-centric approach to face swapping that simply replaces faces in images and video with more idealized representations of the same faces. Their software applies an algorithm covering over 200 different facial measurements that brings a target face closer to the ideal. In most cases, this approach goes well beyond simple airbrushing, dramatically altering a person's appearance and perceived identity.

See below (From Lars Klove for the NYT):



I am not sure either technology is perfectly suitable for privacy protection in video surveillance just yet, but given the choice between the two approaches above, for aesthetic reasons, I'd go with the latter.

More from the Folks at Image Metrics

This video is impressive...and a bit creepy:

Face Swapping Still Not Pretty

Not since John Travolta and Nicolas Cage swapped mugs in the 1997 non-hit Face/Off, have I been so intrigued/disturbed by the prospect of changing faces. Researchers at Columbia University have developed a system capable of quickly replacing and/or obscuring faces in photographs with new composite or synthetically generated images. Unlike our technology at 3VR and that at Google, which only blurs faces, this technology actually changes them...with mixed results.

Here is an example:

The authors see several applications to this technology from protecting privacy in public images to Hollywood special effects. But, as you can see above, the researchers' favorite application seems to focus on making famous faces less attractive.

My New Guard Dog

Surveillance Rocks

This is a pretty clever idea and sort of cool, but on a more serious note, it brings up some interesting aspects of the freedom of information act. I think I'd rather that surveillance just be more targeted, rather than something that rock bands and divorce lawyers can use to get footage.

Surveillance as Voyeurism

I knew it was bound to happen - the security industry finally found a way to hobnob with celebrities and artists.

Danger Will Robinson

The latest in a seemingly endless line of ever creepier face recognizing robots.