JUNE 25, 2009--An infinite number offacial expressions can be now created from a single picture thanks to an image processing technology now drawing attention as a promotional tool on the Internet in Japan.
MotionPortrait, a subsidiary of leading Internet provider So-net Entertainment (Tokyo, Japan), developed the technology. Established in July 2007, the company has provided the technology to more than 30 companies, including cosmetic firm Shiseido and shaver company Schick Japan, as a sales promotion tool. Also, it has been used in various kinds of software for home game consoles.
The core technology, known as MotionPortrait, enables the creation of a 3-D graphic by automatically identifying specific characteristics, such as the shapes of eyes and mouth, of a human face in a picture. The eyes and mouth can be moved at will after a computer graphic model is created from a still picture. The image processing technology is a brainchild of Sony's famedKihara Laboratory, which was closed in 2006.
For more information, go to:http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090602/171114/
--Posted by Conard Holton, Vision Systems Design,www.vision-systems.com
