Sensible Vision, with over 1.5 million installations, comments on a recent blog posting concerning Hewlett Packard face detection for users with darker skin complexions
COVERT, Mich. --(Business Wire)-- Dec 30, 2009 Sensible Vision, the leading supplier of face authentication systems, today commented on recent discussion surrounding Hewlett Packard’s face tracking software. Sensible Vision software is not included in HP products.
Sensible Vision’s FastAccess™ face recognition software is currently in use by over one and a half million users including many in security critical organizations such as hospitals, banks, and enterprise IT. It is also offered as a standard or optional feature on Dell computers and monitors.
Dark complexions need not affect face tracking and recognition in most situations.
The blog post in question demonstrates how face detection software included with an HP laptop fails to detect and track a face with a dark complexion yet a light complexion face was successfully located.
“The response by HP that image processing is ultimately dependent on the quality of the image being provided by the sensor (camera) and software is correct.” said Cyrus Azar CTO of Sensible Vision. “The quality of the detection, however, is also dramatically impacted by the algorithms used by the software. Rather than use standard algorithms, Sensible Vision has developed its own face detection routines to reliably detect faces of both light and dark complexion users under a wide variety of lighting conditions. Although no software can detect faces under all conditions, using the video stream as provided in the YouTube video “HP computers are racist”, Sensible Vision’s FastAccess face recognition software was easily able to track the user with a dark complexion. Further, FastAccess was able to reliably recognize him as well.”
Background
Sensible Vision CTO Cyrus Azar further explained, “The HP feature is “face tracking" software that is included with many webcams. It does no recognition, but is intended to "zoom in" on the face of a person and keep them centered in the frame. In order to zoom, the software must first determine if a face is in front of the webcam. This process is known as face detection.”
Azar noted “While we are pleased that our existing software works with this YouTube video, it is important to keep improving our technology to ensure the best operation in the widest variety of locations where a person may use their computer. Recently we released our new feature called FaceBright which further improves face detection and recognition in difficult lighting by turning the computer’s monitor into a video light. With FaceBright, in many cases a user can now have reliable face detection and recognition in a room with little to no ambient light.”
About Sensible Vision
Headquartered in Covert, Michigan, Sensible Vision Inc. (www.sensiblevision.com) is the leading provider of continuous access control solutions for securing computers using facial recognition. Sensible Vision’s flagship product, FastAccess™ provides quick and continuous authentication and access control for computers and workstations. Using patent-pending biometric facial recognition, it speeds and simplifies access to the computer in a way that is economical and easy to deploy.