Uses for Face Recognition Technology

Sony is already using face recognition technology in a variety of AV equipment in the following categories.

Better Photographs:

The Face Detection function on Sony's Cyber-shot digital still cameras rapidly locates faces in each shot and uses camera controls, including AF, AE and AWB, to optimize the settings for superb reproduction of facial areas. The Smile Shutter function adds the ability to scan facial attributes, detect smiles and automatically control the shutter timing.
The Auto Touch-up function on Sony's PictureStation photo printers detects facial areas before printing and applies a range of imaging processes, including backlight correction, skin color adjustment and focus correction.

Search:

The FaceIndex function on Sony's Handycam digital video camera detects faces during shooting and produces thumbnail images. The user can start playback from the point at which a particular face appears simply by selecting that face on the touch panel.
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-G1 works with bundled software to detect the presence of facial images and determine their size and other parameters, allowing the user to search for files containing pictures of faces. VAIO Movie Story provides a similar capability.

Display:

The slide show function (x-PictStoryHD) on Blu-ray disc recorders and Sony's Sugoroku DVD-HDD recorder uses face detection results to support the creation of powerful face framing effects. Similar capabilities are available through the portrait slideshow function on PLAYSTATION 3, VAIO Movie Story, and on HDD Photostorage.

The Future of the Technology

Currently the most advanced applications of this technology have been implemented on digital still cameras made by various manufacturers. The technology is also used extensively in the digital imaging field, including printers. Sony has led the way in taking the technology to the next stage with its Smile Shutter function, which not only detects faces but also discriminates between facial expressions. Sony will continue to expand the range of face recognition information supplied by its various products. The resulting capabilities, including editing, content searching and content production, are expected to form the basis for important new applications of this technology in the future.

Face recognition technology is likely to be implemented on a variety of equipment in the future. Sony's priority will be to enhance user convenience by developing new ways to manage metadata describing facial characteristics in faces detected in images, and to share that metadata among devices.