Facial Recognition Technology

Has anyone else tried facial recognition technology?

I just gave it a try, and was very impressed. I uploaded one of my best, most youthful pictures, and the program instantly scanned the image, broke it down and compared it to its celebrity data bank. Within two seconds my match came up. Cat Stevens! I have always thought I looked like him, on a VERY GOOD day! Finally, someone agreed with me.

But, then I uploaded another picture, and my match came out to be Katharine Hepburn!

The concept is superb. The program compares your old family photos against their member database, and sees if anyone else has your ancestor in their family tree. Or, if you have a picture of an ancestor who is not identified, theoretically this software could match the picture with one that is verified.

But, I think the software is too influenced by the position or angle of your face, and head. Facial hair causes problems, too. I don’t want to search for someone with the same moustache, I’m looking for the face underneath.

The problems with MyHeritage, as I see them, are the limited data base. The forums are virtually all blank at this point. The focus is too much on celebrities. The software is incompatible with my Safari email program, and with my Mac Family genealogy program.

But, I think facial recognition has big potential. Especially when the database holds a broader collection of faces. And the software is refined.

Another good feature is when you search for a name, Romo for instance, it gives you the option of searching alternate spellings that it lists for you.

Of course, there are no Romos, nor Moctezumas in their database:(

Maybe one day….