Face recognition system identifies terrorists so soldiers don't have to
By Conrad Quilty-Harper 
posted September 27th 2006 7:10PM
posted September 27th 2006 7:10PM
It's not often that we come across new technology that physically makes us sick to write about, but when we do encounter such morally questionable tech, nine times out of ten it's something to do with facilitating the killing of other human beings. A small company specializing in visual image processing called ACAGI Inc., in partnership with researchers at the University of Maryland, has developed a portable face recognition system called the Image Acquisition and Exploitation Camera System which is intended to help soldiers recall faces in crowded areas. The system, which can run over video cameras in the gun barrel or on the soldier's helmet, will notify users when someone who was present previously turns up at the soldiers current location, which should help them identify trouble makers. In ACAGI CEO Peter Spatharis' own words: "If our system sees somebody it knows, it tells you, and it tells others so quick decisions can be made" -- and let's just say that those "quick decisions" he refers to aren't spur of the moment invitations to tea parties back at the barracks. Possibly the scariest "feature" of the face recognition system is that it can be hooked up to an existing [Via The Raw Feed]
Go f*** yourself Matt, freaking terrorist sh*t. Trying to pass off your crap on others. Sure every race and creed has had its terrorists... but which is the primary source? Don't try to save your dumb ass by placing the blame on others, I'm sure your book instructs you in such deviousness as well.
This story submission is a political troll.
It is so ignorant on many levels that it makes baby Jeebus cry.
Darn libs are just as ignorant as many neocons:
Damn those wascally do-gooders using the technologies! Those 'naughty' muslims who blow up wimens and chil'ren, and cut the heads off of journalists as they are still alive are just freedom fighters...we saw the movie "V", we understand u mooslims...
Wow what an awful story engadget...use to be such a good blog...now it's politico flamebait. If I want to go to a self-righteous, political tech site, I'll go read /.
I know this is light hearted and all, but why show that damn image?
Perpetuates the stereotype I say.
er...
I for one shun our face recognising camera overlords!?!
I'm gonna throw another vote on the side of "this isn't such a bad thing." First of all, no computers are shooting people automatically. This is not in the Army's plan at all. There will *always* be a human making the decision to shoot or not to shoot. Secondly, yes, this tech isn't particularly good nowadays. Guess what? That's why they're spending money to improve it.
The US military is one of the most ethical militaries in the world. They're far from perfect (you try to control a bunch of 18-25 year olds with guns), but the fact that they have to ultimately answer to a US public that won't put up with rape and murder more or less keeps them in line. (I'm purposely ignoring the ethics of their current orders, since that's just asking for a flame war)
this is turlly CRAZY~
shroud00:
which is exactly why technology like this shouldn't be used. it can too easily misidentify someone. the picture is being used to show how you can't just put a label on someone based on how they appear, especially when it could be a matter of life and death.
I agree with everyone who said that this was the best picture ya'll could have used. Also, for the nay-sayers about this technology, the freakin' camera won't fire the gun, that's still left up to the soldier. So don't s**t a brick, eh?
Engadget: I thought your writers job was to write stories; not to play hollywood actor and voice their personal high morals?
I, for one, would like to welcome our new camera-in-barrel overlords.
"many other white Christians who forcibly converted and killed and conquered millions of people all over the world for no reason."
Many "white" (whatever nationality THAT is) christians killed and conquered all those people for money and power. Also, no country in existence today wasn't borne on the broken corpse of another. Every people had to kill and conquer to make a place in the world. It's ugly but true, and I am highly offended that you would single out two groups to focus on... "white(s)" (of which I am not) and christians (of which I am). I think you should go to a sensitivity class to help you understand how your assertions that certain groups people are mindless violent savages can hurt.
It's unfair that stupid Americans (of which there are many) have made life hard for you. There are just as many decent people in this country. If you're going to be sensitive to your ethnic/sociall group then please don't condemn other people for making comments by making your own. That just shows that everybody does it, and nobody should take it to heart.
"Please Engadget, have some decency and remove that pic so all the stupidity, ignorance, and hate can end."
The only hate I read was "Go f*** yourself Matt, freaking terrorist sh*t." What a genius. Your words... absolute genius. As for stupidity and ignorance, they've been around since the beginning and wishing they weren't is like banging your head against a concrete bunker to get inside instead of using the door. Useless and a waste of time.
bandeeto, didn't mean to offend you or anything. sorry if i used the wrong words. one of the most important parts of Sikhism is respect of all other religions. so anyways, sorry about that.
Remember Christopher Colombus: America's First Terrorist.
Ok everyone, who ever said that a match would mean that the soldier had to kill that person. He could just bring that person in for questioning and hey, he could use it to take a picture of someone that is shooting at him, then you know its a terrorist so if he gets away they would be added to the list. If it was on the gun itself that would make it more bulky and in convient. I say it is likely to go on the helmet
That is a stereotypical picture. just because he is wearing a turbin and is brown should not mean he is a terrorist. This is racist and pure bullshit.
"bandeeto, didn't mean to offend you or anything. sorry if i used the wrong words. one of the most important parts of Sikhism is respect of all other religions. so anyways, sorry about that."
I don't think you were dissrespectfull, just using words creatively to make your point. There is no reason to appologize. We have a couple of different view points, and I was trying to use words creatively to make MY point. thank you for your graciouse reply.
"Dumb Americans. I hope you all get blown up and burn in hell"
It's true... just like there are many smart Americans, tall Americans, happy Americans, busy Americans, etc. The same can be said of any large group of people in the world. Read the next sentance (or, gasp, the ENTIRE post!) and you'll see that I wasn't intending to insult the USA or her citizens, of which I proudly am one.
Oh yeah, if by "you all" you mean my nationality, then you're talking about Americans, and you're wishing all Americans would get blown up and burn in hell. Not... very... nice!
Dumb Americans. I hope you all get blown up and burn in hell.
How will system work on Halloween?
And if they all wear the same mask? ;-))
It would be better if the gun shoots by itself