Facial

With people wearing masks so much of the time now, it can be difficult to tell what expression is on someone's face. A new system can reportedly do so, though, utilizing cameras mounted on their headphones.

Ordinarily, if you want to create a lifelike 3D digital model of someone's face, a 3D scanner and/or multiple cameras are required. Now, however, scientists from Carnegie Mellon University have created a system that lets a smartphone do the job.

​We've seen it in movies many times before … the reluctant witness who looks right at the mug shot of the murderer, and falsely claims that they don't know him. Soon, however, police could know if such people are lying – by watching their eyes.

​In the near future, it may be a lot more difficult to make computers believe that you're happy with something when you're actually not. That's because scientists at Britain's University of Bradford have developed software that can reportedly detect phoney smiles.

​Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be a very difficult condition to diagnose, particularly in young children. Previously, we've seen technology intended to detect it by "reading" kids' faces. A new system, however, also gets children to read the faces of others.

A new study examining the anatomical differences between dogs and wolves revealed dogs recently evolved a very small facial muscle allowing them to raise their inner eyebrow. This muscle was not found in wolves, suggesting dogs rapidly evolved this extra tissue to better communicate with humans.

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.

​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.

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.

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.

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.

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.