Japanese Digital Cameras That Can Identify Age and Gender
Published On: March 7, 2008
Well, 1984 has come, gone and returned! Reuters is reporting that the Japanese have invented a digital camera that can identify the gender and age of its subject! Once in production, this camera will make it easier for police to identify criminal suspects. Click here to watch the full report. The camera, which debuted at the Tokyo Securities Show, has a margin of error of plus or minus 10 years. Apparently, the inventors have uploaded over 1 million mug shots to their database. The camera’s software will be able to take the image and match it with those mug shots, thereby helping the police in their search for the proper suspect.
While in place as a surveillance camera in retail stores, it can also be used to determine customer demographics by identifying the age and gender of their customers as they browse and make their purchases.
Currently, the only images in their database are those of Asian people, limiting the current usage to Asian subjects.
To me, the implications are both exciting and scary.
