COMPUTERIZED POLICE ARTIST (FROM CARNAHAN CONFERENCE ON CRIME COUNTERMEASURES, 1975 - PROCEEDINGS BY JOHN S JACKSON - SEE NCJ-31252)

• NCJ Number: 31263
• Author(s): M L GILLENSEN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Kentucky; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES 'WHATSISFACE,' THE WORLD'S FIRST COMPUTERIZED FACIAL COMPOSITOR AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR USE IN CREATING SKETCHES OF A SUSPECT'S FACE FROM A WITNESS' VERBAL DESCRIPTION.

Abstract

IN ITS EXISTING CONFIGURATION, THE 'WHATSISFACE' SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO PERMIT A NON-ARTIST AND NON-COMPUTER SPECIALIST TO CONSTRUCT, ON A COMPUTER GRAPHICS DISPLAY, A RECOGNIZABLE SKETCH OF ANY MALE, CAUCASIAN FACE (FRONT VIEW) FROM A PHOTOGRAPH OF THAT FACE IN FRONT OF HIM. IN 'WHATSISFACE', THE COMPUTER SYSTEM CONTAINS PRE-STORED FACIAL FEATURES, AN AVERAGE FACE USED AS A STARTING POINT, AND A HEURISTIC STRATEGY WHICH GUIDES THE USER IN THE GENERATION OF THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE. THE USER MAKES ALL THE VISUAL DECISIONS AND MAKES CHANGES IN THE DISPLAYED IMAGE BY ADJUSTING ANALOG INPUT DEVICES. OTHER ASPECTS OF THE DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING SUGGESTIONS FOR CRIMINOLOGICAL VERSIONS ARE DEALT WITH IN DETAIL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)