An interesting little image-processing algorithm has been developed that can highlight minute changes in a video, with some very interesting applications (and a bit scary from a surveillance POV).

At this summer's Siggraph conference researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) will present new software that amplifies variations in successive frames of video that are imperceptible to the naked eye. So, for instance, the software makes it possible to actually "see" someone's pulse, as the skin reddens and pales with the flow of blood, and it can exaggerate tiny motions, making visible the vibrations of individual guitar strings or the breathing of a swaddled infant in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Best illustrated by just watching the video (720p viewing recommended):



(Source)

big deal?

It has the potential to be used for lie detection or to scan crowds for people with "altered" vitals, to come to some sort of conclusion (criminal, terrorist, etc) - such as what they wanted to do with a thermal tech 10 years back:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/01/0102_020102TVsensor.html

Might not sound bad at first glance, but some would consider it an invasion of privacy and also not a reliable way of drawing conclusions. What if I'm at an airport stressing out over something about work/family, or if I'm unwell - does that justify security to come and chat with me or put me in holding because I'm looking a bit agitated or shifty from the cameras, "just in case"?

Not to sound Faceman-ish, but given the crazy stuff the UK has been doing with surveillance and security over the last 10-15 years it's not that far fetched.

last edited by parabol at 10:32:49 24/Jun/12

you just need to know the persons pulse rate to accurately measure their pulse rate?