Face Detection
Apple says it uses facial detection to determine the existence of faces, and then facial recognition to separate one person from the other. The problem is, that first step is far from a catch-all:

• It suffers from the typical face-detection problem of an incomplete picture—it won’t pick up all faces turned to the side, revealing just one eye. But far worse than that, it has a very hard time picking up faces tilted to either side, even if they’re otherwise perfectly clear and symmetrical. In other words, if the year is 2029 and Apple’s deathbots are coming for you, cock your head to the side, and they’ll just truck on by.

• The other problem iPhoto’s face detection suffers from is overconfidence. Sure, it makes sense that it picks up the faces of Mount Rushmore (well, at least Lincoln’s) but it’ll invent eyes and a nose from any old rumpled curtain or wood grain when it wants to.

Face Recognition
Once you get past the detection, the recognition kicks on. Some people are already saying it’s crap, but it’s remarkable when it wants to be. How do I know it’s working? Because on many occasions I have seen it correctly identify faces in frames in the background of a shot. But recognition has some hang-ups of its own:

• Once you name a person and click on their face on the corkboard, iPhoto suggests lookalikes, which you approve or reject by clicking. The first round of suggestions are mainly nonsense—iPhoto needs a lot of data to work correctly. Confirm the identity of your subject 10 or 20 times then click Done so the system can recalibrate.

• In the first round or two, recognition errs on the side of inclusion: A bald guy with a beard and glasses won’t just bring up similarly described gents, but will attract everybody who is bald, everybody who wears glasses and everybody with a beard. In my experiences, the images with the closest resemblance appear first, but as you scroll down, there are more and more random guesses. When it comes to babies, good luck—in those early rounds, iPhoto thinks all babies look alike. Again, you approve the suggested photos that are of the same person, and reject the ones that are not.

• Once you’ve done a round or two greenlighting more accurate shots of the person, it’s important to reject ones that are not. If you leave them there, iPhoto will keep on suggesting them. I found that, if two people look kinda alike, it pays to identify them both, and go back and forth between them confirming more and more shots, so iPhoto learns faster who belongs where.

• Baldness, hair colour and facial hair are all strong indicators for iPhoto. If your friend has a goatee or some kind of fancy moustache, don’t ever let him shave it off. Likewise, if your mum switches hairstylists and starts getting a different dye job, she may as well don full hunter’s camouflage. For some reason, iPhoto had an easier time discerning the blondes than the brunettes.

• People wearing glasses cause iPhoto to suggest matches of other people wearing glasses, in some cases people who are otherwise comically different. But iPhoto seems to have a lot of trouble with glasses in general, and can’t always grasp the glasses-wearer well enough to confidently suggest more of that same person. Sunglasses are obviously a problem for recognition, but people wearing sunglasses are often suggested for anyone wearing glasses, as if it was all the same to iPhoto.

• There are two kinds of recognition dead-ends you can encounter, where iPhoto won’t suggest any more photos for a person, even though you know they’re out there, and where iPhoto suggests an endless supply of random faces as potential matches, clearly unable to narrow it down further. Both are infuriating, and require you to go out and identify photos manually in hopes of jogging its memory.

• Pets are not guaranteed to work with recognition. I’m not going to slander the good people of MacLife by calling BS, but seriously, I can’t get neither cat nor dog to be recognised in any way by iPhoto, and I don’t believe it’s possible. You can identify them yourself, of course, but the reason it doesn’t pull up suggested shots containing the same furry animal is that it’s not looking at furry animals.

The Faces system is technically a time saver even when the recognition is not up to snuff, because by batching the more-or-less appropriate pictures together, you can tag them a lot faster than you otherwise could. There are plenty of user interface problems that I will address in the actual review, but in the meantime, I will leave you with this: After heavy testing for half a day, iPhoto became shockingly good at identifying my face. I can only imagine that, given more calibration and identified content, it will be better and better. My biggest fear is how many photos aren’t clearing the first hurdle—face detection—and are therefore left completely out of the system. Who would have thought that the recognition would be easier to nail than the detection? Not me. [iPhoto '09]

To enroll in the face recognition software, the built-in webcam on the laptop scans the face for prime areas, such as the eyes or more conspicuous facial features. The special photo, which does not have to be of high quality, is processed so that the key areas are enhanced and the contrast levels are adjusted to the expectations of the software.

Dong Ngo of CNET recently underwent a Skype demonstration with a BKIS technician. The technican then captured a photo of Ngo’s face, and produced a special “unflattering” photo five minutes later using a special algorithm. Ngo was able to use the photo to log in to his Lenovo Y430. The technician later then demonstrated this procedure on similar Asus and Toshiba notebooks.

In lieu of fingerprint scanning and the traditional username/password combination, face recognition software may not be the most secure way to protect data. Until then, I’ll just use my own “specially” produced photos (courtesy of Photoshop) to tweak that, uh, zit, maybe even change my eye color–ooh instant nose surgery–to log me in. But only after I post that photo of “myself” on my Facebook profile. Hah! [CNET Crave]

If you have photos on a Picasa web album already, you can enable the feature in settings. It then scans all your photos in the Picasa web album, before grouping similar faces together. You then work through those by giving name tags.

You’ll quite often have to repeat the same person in different groups of photos, so it’s a far from perfect solution. But it does make the tagging process much quicker than manually going through every photo.

It’s also secure, enabling better searching and more freedom for specific collections of photos, and you can share tagged photos with the people in them easily as well. Any images you share via Picasa also only shares the nicknamed tag you’ve put on the photo, not any further details like contact information.

This is a really useful development for cataloguing your photos, but why it’s only available online and not in desktop photo management software like iPhoto or Picasa for Windows is beyond me. Hopefully we’ll see it rolled out to desktop applications sooner rather than later.

[Picasa nametags]

UPDATE: Olympus has just informed me that the mju 1060 will only be available in black in Australia, which isn’t such a bad thing – it looks much better than the boring old silver model.

There’s auto face-detection of up to 16 faces, to do something similar with the exposure settings, and “Shadow Adjustment Technology” which sounds intriguing. Basically, it does absolutely everything for you, photographically, except depress the shutter.

It can shoot VGA video at 30fps, and has a high-speed photo mode at 9fps. It’s out in the UK at first, in September in silver, black and green for around US$485. [TFTS]

The Couple Timer Mode combines a timer and facial recognition to make sure that the awkward cuddling couple trying to take a picture of themselves shot comes out correctly. But it doesn’t just wait for two faces to show in the frame before taking a shot; it’s programmable to just how close you want the two heads to be before the shutter snaps.

Confusing? Let’s flesh this one out a bit. You are on a beach with one of those really hot girls who only thinks of you as a friend even when really, really drunk. Set the camera for ultra-close-head-picture-mode, or whatever, and she will be forced to press cheeks with you and inhale your trademark musk of Doritos and salicylic acid for the first time.

And if she can resist that, my friend, then she has no clue what intimacy is.

SONY INTRODUCES THE WORLD’S FIRST CAMCORDER WITH SMILE SHUTTER TECHNOLOGY

SAN DIEGO, June 18, 2008 – Sony is taking the lead in the camcorder industry by introducing the first high-definition camcorder with both Smile Shutter™ and face detection technologies.

The HDR-CX12 Memory Stick® Handycam® camcorder can record full 1920 x 1080 HD video and 10-megapixel photos on Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and any Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) media cards. Roughly the size of a soda can (2.8-inches wide by 5.3-inches tall by 2.8-inches deep), this ultra-compact model will allow for easy transfer of video and stills from media cards to a compatible PC to share via email, uploading to the Internet or burning to disc.

With Sony’s unique Smile Shutter technology you can capture smiling photos and record video at the same time. When activated the technology will detect and automatically take a photo when your subject smiles – without having to switch to photo mode or press the photo button.

It also features child and adult prioritization so you can capture photos when your intended subject group smiles. This camcorder can even detect and capture a smile while in standby mode – just aim the camcorder and you’ll capture smiling moments.

“Advanced technologies such as ’smile shutter’ make memory capture automatic so you can relax and enjoy the moment at hand,” said Kelly Davis, director of camcorder marketing at Sony Electronics. “Leveraging these key technologies across multiple product lines is another example of Sony’s commitment to anticipate consumer needs by making video capture more seamless, easy and fun.”

Advanced Features and Performance

In addition to face detection technology, the camcorder is packed with powerful features such as ClearVid® CMOS sensor with Exmor™-derived technology for stunning video detail and clarity, a BIONZ™ imaging processor, an advanced Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* 12x optical zoom lens and Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilisation for smooth video and clear photos.

The model has a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus™ screen, Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel surround sound recording and a built-in zoom microphone to record clear dialogue. It has an assignable dial that can be customised to manually control focus, brightness and white balance.

The camcorder will ship with a supplied 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) media card so that you are ready to start recording almost straight out of the box. A supplied Handycam Station™ cradle makes for easy DVD creation with its One Touch Disc Burn button. Also bundled is Picture Motion Browser software to easily view, organize and store video and photos on a compatible PC.

Price and Availability

The HDR-CX12 camcorder will be in stores early August for about $900. It will be available at Sony Style® retail stores, online through www.sonystyle.com and at authorised dealers nationwide. Online pre-orders will begin on June 20th at www.sonystyle.com/handycam.

[Impress]

This is a good thing, because Sagawa Advance’s scanner is used as access to high-security areas such as power plants and medical factories where they’ve got to make sure that it’s really the plant supervisor entering and not his evil twin bent on the destruction of the human race. That’s always the worst. [Digital World Tokyo]

The FE-280 and FE-300 are essentially the same camera with 2.5″ LCDs and 3x optical zoom lenses. The difference is, one registers 8 megapixels while the other carries a whopping 12 (and for $300!). They both have face detection, digital image stabilization, and something called “perfect shot preview,” which simultaneously previews different exposures, white balances and metering so you can choose (and learn). They also have the Perfect Fix, which tweaks blurred, red-eye infested or poorly lit images after you take them. One of their shooting modes is called “Smile Shot” and while I don’t have the details, I am told that it is a facial recognition technology that automatically takes the picture, yes, once you are smiling. That just makes me smile.

The FE-280 is available in red, blue, black and silver, as shown above, while the FE-300, below, comes only in silver.

The FE-280 is a 7-megapixel camera with a 4x wide-angle optical zoom, for getting more when you’re close in. It’s also got a larger 3″ LCD, and comes in black or silver. In exchange for the upped specs, it loses the wackier FE features, like Smile Shot and the Perfect Fix.

FE-300:

FE-290:

NEW OLYMPUS FE-SERIES CAMERAS COMBINE EASY OPERATION WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

Three New Digital Compact Cameras Offer Choice of 12.0-Megapixel Image Sensor, 4x Wide-Angle Lens and Face Detection Technology for Crisp, Clear Images

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 23, 2007 – Olympus has taken the FE-Series to a new level of performance and ease of use. From the most powerful image sensor to the largest LCD screen and the newest technological innovations, the FE-300, FE-290 and FE-280 offer something for everyone. Common to all three cameras is their ultra-slim design, affordable price and intuitive features, which enable anyone to capture all of life’s moments in brilliant detail.

Each easy and fun camera also offers its own unique features including:
 FE-300: The slimmest compact camera to provide a 12-megapixel image sensor for producing large-format prints with incredible detail and Face Detection Technology for capturing sharp, brilliant portrait pictures;
 FE-290: A 4x zoom for getting closer to a subject, a 28mm wide-angle lens for taking beautiful panoramic shots and an impressive 3-inch LCD for composing and displaying captured images; and
 FE-280: A super-slim body available in four trendy colors (red, blue, black and silver) with Face Detection Technology, which tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.

“We’ve added even more features and performance to the ultra-slim FE-Series without adding complexity,” said Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Whatever your need, from large-format printing to increased zoom, there’s an FE camera for you.”

Powerful Image Sensor
The FE-300 features a powerful 12.0-megapixel image sensor, which allows photographers to make large-format prints and crop photographs dramatically while maintaining image quality. Producing impressive 16-inch by 20-inch prints of dramatic landscapes, portraits or flowers will be a snap with this high-resolution (1/1.72″) image sensor.

High-Resolution LCD Screens
The FE-290 features an extra large 3-inch LCD screen, and the FE-280 and FE-300 feature large 2.5-inch LCD screens. Composing shots and sharing images with friends and family is easier than ever thanks to the FE-Series large, high-resolution LCD screens. Additionally, the backlight boost button increases the LCD from bright to a super-bright setting, making it easier to capture and view images in challenging environments such as direct sunlight or low-light situations.

Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects’ faces without having to press the shutter button.

Expanded Control and Easy Operation
In some situations, consumers may want more creative control when composing images. The three new FE cameras offer Program Auto Mode. Located on the cameras’ mode dial, this option enables consumers to easily adjust ISO and white balance. Additionally, the new FE-Series cameras feature in-camera Help Guides, making digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. A tutorial “shooting guide” educates users on tips for achieving specific effects, such as “shooting into backlight” and brightening subjects. The shooting guide not only provides detailed descriptions for various situations and environments, but also sets the camera with the touch of a button, making the transition from learning to taking great pictures instantaneous.

Perfect Shot Preview
The FE-300 and FE-280 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode, which enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It’s a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.

Digital Image Stabilization Mode and Edit
The new FE cameras offer Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) for capturing crisp, clear pictures. DIS freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature Digital Image Stabilization Edit, which uses a built-in gyro sensor to track camera movement and enables users to fix blurry images right in the camera. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature high ISO sensitivity, which extends the flash working range, enabling users to capture clear, bright subjects and backgrounds in low-light situations.

Perfect Fix
Life does not always go as planned, so the FE-280 and FE-300 feature Perfect Fix, which allows users to modify pictures after they take them. Perfect Fix sharpens unanticipated blur, improves lighting and eliminates red-eye.

TruePicTM III Image Processor
The FE-280 and FE-300 feature Olympus’ exclusive new TruePic III image processor, which was developed for the demanding performance of professional Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
The FE-280 and FE-300 include Bright Capture Technology, enabling consumers to preview and shoot images and movies in low light using specific scene modes. It is perfect for situations when a flash is not appropriate to capture the softness and warmth of a candlelit dinner or natural skin tones in subdued lighting.

PreSet Shooting Modes Make It Easy to Capture Great Images
The inclusion of preset shooting modes, accessed via a rotating dial and menu button on the back of the cameras, makes it easy to capture great images in a variety of lighting situations, such as Sports, Fireworks and Night Scene with Portrait. All three cameras offer VGA-quality video and sound, which enable users to create short movies that can be emailed to family and friends. The FE-290 offers 17 shooting modes, while the FE-300 offers 18, and the FE-280 offers 21, including three underwater scene modes.

OLYMPUS Masterâ„¢ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. And with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or emailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muveeâ„¢ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.

Olympus Premium Cases and Silicone Skin
Olympus also offers premium cases in various colors, including camel and red leather, and a sporty neoprene case perfect for active or outdoor situations. Silicone skins that protect the camera from scratches are also available in colors for the FE-280. Additionally, the PT-038 underwater housing can be used with the FE-280, enabling even the most novice photographer to take beautiful underwater images.

Availability
The FE-280, FE-290 and FE-300 will be available in August 2007. Each will include a LI-42B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Manual, CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Masterâ„¢ 2 Software and Warranty Card.

U.S. Pricing
FE-280 Estimated Street Price: $199.99 (U.S.)
FE-290 Estimated Street Price: $249.99 (U.S.)
FE-300 Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (U.S.)