New Atlas

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Skinmade kiosks produce client-specific face cream on demand

Ben Coxworth April 2, 2019

Skincare products work best if they're tailored to individual users. Unfortunately, though, such bespoke items tend to be pricey. German startup Skinmade is out to change that, with kiosks that mix and dispense relatively affordable skin creams that are based on each client's unique needs.

Skinmade kiosks deliver jars of custom face cream within seven minutes

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Neutrogena tech produces user-specific 3D-printed facial masks

Ben Coxworth January 4, 2019

When it comes to hydrating facial skin, along with delivering nutrients to it, ready-made "sheet masks" have become quite popular. Neutrogena is now taking the concept further – its MaskiD system fabricates 3D-printed masks that are customized to the shape and needs of each client's face.

The MaskiD system supplies users with custom 3D-printed facial sheet masks

Electronics

Smartphone-control tech can sense your smile in your ear

Ben Coxworth July 12, 2017

As many of us know from personal experience, accessing a smartphone's touchscreen can be difficult when your hands are full. That's why scientists have developed a hands-free system that lets you control a phone via facial gestures – and those gestures are detected in your ear.

Computers

Disney software lets directors change actors' expressions in post-production

Ben Coxworth December 14, 2015

Soon, movie directors may likewise be able to alter an actor's facial expressions after their performance has been shot. They could do so using FaceDirector, a program created through a collaboration between Disney Research Zurich and the University of Surrey.

FaceDirector takes prerecorded shots (top) and combines the actor's different facial expressions from each one

Robotics

Facial stickers could let robots read our emotions

Ben Coxworth April 30, 2015

If robots are ever going to interact with us, then it's important that they know what sort of emotions we're expressing. While some already use computer vision to do so, scientists have developed what they say is a simpler technology – users just have to be willing to stick something on their face.

Perhaps all that trouble could have been avoided in Metropolis, if only the Maria robot were ...

3D Printing

fahz will put "your face in a vase"

Ben Coxworth January 9, 2015

The famous Rubin's vase illusion incorporates the facial profiles of two people, which can be seen in the negative space along either of its sides. Should you like the idea of owning such a vase, but that features the profiles of you and people you know – well, that would be the fahz.

Can't see the faces in this photo? Check out the shape of the black background where ...

Pets

Bistro cat feeder and health monitor identifies cats using facial recognition

Colin Jeffrey July 21, 2014

Bistro is an automatic cat feeder and health monitor that uses facial recognition technology to ensure the food is going to its intended recipient. It also monitors your cat's food and water consumption, along with its weight and eating habits.

Bistro is claimed to be the first smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology

Science

Linking facial features to genetic data could lead to DNA "mug shots"

Ben Coxworth March 27, 2014

As any fan of just about any TV cop show will tell you, it's possible to determine someone's sex and race based on a sample of their DNA. In the future, however, such samples might also allow investigators to construct an image of the person's face.

It may someday be possible to ascertain someone's appearance by analyzing their DNA

Automotive

Tired? Angry? Your car knows how you feel

Grant Banks March 24, 2014

Ever experienced road rage? What if an onboard emotion detection system could tell that you were getting annoyed and intervene? PSA Peugeot Citroen has teamed up with EPFL to develop an emotion detection system designed to recognize signs of irritation and fatigue in a driver’s facial expressions.

PSA Peugeot Citroen has teamed up with EPFL to develop an emotion detection system designed to ...

Science

Facial recognition is in (the reflection of) the eye of the beholder

Brian Dodson January 16, 2014

A study just carried out by Dr. Rob Jenkins of the University of York and Christie Kerr of the University of Glasgow, both in the UK, has found that the picture of a high-end camera is capable of seeing images reflected from the corneas of a subject being photographed.

Photographs often contain more information than we think (Photo: University of York)