Know the face: New software aims to boost the accuracy of automated facial recognition systems

摘要

Big brother may be watching you but it doesn't mean he recognises you, which is why researchers at University College London (UCL) are developing new automated facial recognition software. It will be able to identity faces regardless of variation in position, pose, expression, and illumination. Current facial recognition software needs full frontal images to function properly. This usually requires the co-operation of the user, which works for access control to a building but is unsuitable for cameras acquiring images in uncontrolled conditions, such as with CCTV. The new system will use a Bayesian probability model to allow the recognition of images taken in such conditions. 'The most current commercial methods use high-resolution images to inspect little facial features,' said Dr Simon Prince, principal investigator, of UCL. 'Our technology can't work miracles but it can work with lower-resolution images. If, as a human, you think the image is useful, the computer should be able to do something with it.