One of my new interests is facial recognition technology for consumers. We know about Google’s name tags (or Faces from Iphoto).
A few days ago, Lenovo announced its Veriface technology in its new notebook. It uses facial recognition with the built in camera to allow you to log on to your computer. It also logs pictures of unsuccessful attempts. I can’t vouch for its effectiveness (or usefulness) have no idea how it works, but its another example of facial recognition technology moving to consumers.
Here is another batch of red light camera info. While I think this is an important topic, I think I am going to focus more on smart camera technologies in future posts and less on red light cameras. For a good overview of the issues around red light cameras in Chicago, the parking ticket geek suggests we look at the CBS 2 coverage.
Breen’s goal is nothing short of ambitious. He wants to rid the state of all red light cameras.
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The keynote speaker for the event will beIllinois State Senator Dan Duffy(R-Lake Barrington), an outspoken critic of red light cameras. Duffy has pre-filed a bill (SB-2466) in the Illinois Senate that pushes for removal of red light cameras in Illinois.
Breen is very serious on the issue and just last week launchedBanRedCams.com, a website dedicated to this issue to announce the rally, disseminate information about red light cameras, and keep people up to date on the issues.
The rally takes place at 7 PM tomorrow in front of of RedSpeed Illinois, located at 400 Eisenhower Lane N, Lombard, IL (just off of Finley Road, north of Butterfield, IL-56).
Breen encourages everyone attending to bring a flash light in order to “turn them on RedSpeed and give them a taste of their own medicine,” he said laughing.
An update on the Secure Border Initiative that is contracted out to Boeing. (See here for past coverage).
The program so far has been a failure. Nevertheless the government decided to give Boeing a second chance, because they thought it would be even harder to start with a new contractor. While Boeing is mum on how they will fix the project, a recent hearing has some details, starting with problems of the first version:
Flash rainstorms would trip the radar accidentally. Satellite communications — initially thought to be more efficient in terrain where cell towers are sparse — took too long to transmit instructions from cameras to control centers to agents in the field. By the time the agents reached locations minutes later where the cameras had registered a hit, the illegal immigrants had moved on.
. . .
The network of cameras and sensors was scheduled to be fully operational by this year. Now, the government’s new projection for full operation has been pushed back to 2016.
. . .
He said the government has simplified the project, removing in-vehicle monitors that didn’t work well. The project also has switched from satellite to microwave communication signals. The goal is to give agents a system that merges data from ground sensors, video cameras and radar.
The government already has installed 17 towers to watch over a 23-mile stretch south of Tucson, Ariz. The project managers are finishing a new round of testing and plan to turn the network over to the Border Patrol in January.
Borkowski said the future of the project depends on that field testing. Some lawmakers complain that the government has lowered expectations too much: The new system has to detect only seven of 10 incursions to be considered acceptable.
Eight years after the attacks of 9/11, documentary photographer Richard Gordon is exploring the controversy of security over personal privacy in his new book, American Surveillance. Amazon
In a project spanning 2003 to 2008, Gordon served as what he calls an observer in a climate with an increasing number of security cameras in public spaces. Shooting pictures with 35mm film in black and white, Gordon became a spy of countless spy cameras.
The first is cameras at CTA stations. Teleste Corp. of Georgetown, Texas, will install high-resolution digital cameras at all 144 CTA rail stations by 2011. The new cameras will be capable of showing facial features. I think its a good assumption that facial recognition technology will also be deployed at the stations.
The second is a satellite-based monitoring system which will track the real-time location of about 2,000 CTA buses. The OEMC states that this will allow for a better gauge of traffic flow. Currently, buses are GPS enabled on more than 150 routes. This data can be seen at ctabustracker.com. (I don’t fully understand this development, is there new data? or just the OEMC is going to start analyzing it?)
The CTA also deferred a contract with a security services. According to the CTA, “A more cost-effective approach would be to install security systems that alert authorities immediately of signs of forced entry or tampering.” So the CTA is in the market for a smart camera system for security.
Finally, Illinois Police now have access to a large database of license plates associated with revoked/suspended drivers licenses. This adds considerable utility to the ALPR system in Illinois.
Libertyville has approved a contract with Gatso-USA for automated red light enforcement services. As a direct result of the publicity around the ticketing of right turns in Chicago, the new cameras will not ticket right turns on red.
(I promise to post non-red light camera stuff next)
A new WGN poll finds skepticism about the use of red light cameras. This is not surprising and will keep increasing as red light cameras largely target right hand turns in the Chicago area.
61 percent said the primary purpose of cameras was to boost ticket revenue for local governments and the private firms they hire to install and run camera equipment.
Overall, 53 percent agreed red-light cameras were a “good idea,” while 41 percent thought them a “bad idea.”
Just 31 percent of Downstate voters said they would like to see cameras installed where they live, while 57 percent said they would not.
More than half of suburban Cook residents surveyed said they disliked the notion of cameras, and 58 percent said they didn’t want one where they lived.
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