Software 'Removes' Pedestrians from Street View
A computer science graduate student is working on software to remove pedestrians from Google Street View.
Privacy advocates slamming Google for capturing images of pedestrians for Street View may soon have a hero to worship: Arturo Flores, a computer science graduate student at the University of California, San Diego. Flores is working on an unnamed program that will remove humans from Google Street View images.
As a work in progress, the software isn't perfect, however it's currently capable of determining human shapes and "ghosting" them out of the picture. The ghosting aspect means that the software wasn't able to totally remove the pedestrian, but rather fill the person's void by rendering additional background colors found in previous and prior shots. In some cases, shoes, umbrellas and other objects still remain, adding to the ghost-like appearance.
According to Flores, the software was originally developed as a proof-of-concept for CSE 190A, a project-based computer vision and machine learning class. Flores says that although Google attempts to honor privacy by blurring faces, other things like clothes, body shape, height and geographical location could still identify pedestrians. The drawback is that the software only works in urban settings where background geometry is typically flat.
Once his pedestrian detection is perfected, Flores plans to tackle groups of people. To learn more about the software, check out his blog here.
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go go go. Google?
No more games of "Find The Stig"?
No more games of "Find The Stig"?
Do not worry, they will come up with something else, like: Whose ghost is that?
A further enhancement will allow pedestrians to be replaced with pr0n stars.
is not a new program. they already have that function in Photoshop CS5.
What's the point? If you walked out of a porn shop then so be it. If you're so ashamed then don't don't go in, otherwise live with it. If Google have to clear out all their shots of people then do newspapers and newsreports have to do the same? It's just plain nonsense.
Bah, it's only a problem if Google took pictures of law enforcement. Everyone else is fair game, right?
So.... Content-Aware Fill?
is not a new program. they already have that function in Photoshop CS5.
Yep, content-aware filling.
Once again, Tom's "news" is not news.
Actually, even though the feature is there this is a good example of how the content aware type filters can be used in applications ...
...allthough you know that most goverment will be getting google to scrub their bases and critical buildings off the map i guess?
I agree it (the technology) is not much news, but it's application is a new one and could have profound implications on the very maps we rely on day to day, and that sir's is definately news!
*apologies for bursting your trollbubble hehe
So.... Content-Aware Fill?
is not a new program. they already have that function in Photoshop CS5.
And if you factor in content-aware scaling, healing brushes and even the clone tool thus has all been available earlier than CS5.
Nice to see an automated process though.
This is awful! Now, if there'es a "Nuclear Launch Detected..." everybody will be suspect!
Will it also remove sculptures of people? they do have human shapes.
Doesn't the new software developed for the xbox kinect also recognize human shapes? Not only in still shots, but in the more difficult scenario when they are in motion. Perhaps MS should think about licensing their technology for other uses as well. With a non-competition clause, of course.
Soon on 6 News: "Ghost captured in a photograph. Real or fake?"
this privacy thing is stupid. Blurring is enough... lets see this software remove pedestrians from a very populated street.
What's the point? If you walked out of a porn shop then so be it. If you're so ashamed then don't don't go in, otherwise live with it. If Google have to clear out all their shots of people then do newspapers and newsreports have to do the same? It's just plain nonsense.
Your employer might decide you don't get that promotion because you're not a Anti-Porn Puritan like him.
Or a prospective employer, or client, etc.
Keep in mind, the appearance can be damning, even if you were just walking past. It doesn't have to be a porn store. Could be a store or place with some political affiliation. Some people will take bias to high levels. Especially with how partisan its gotten.