Advanced facial recognition technology that automatically identifies
the players is being used by official photographers Image Masters
at the World Series of Poker tournament now getting into its stride
at the Rio in Vegas.
The software, branded FaceIT will allow interested parties to quickly
search and find photographs simply by entering the name of the subject.
To be included in the free of charge program, players need only register
with Image Masters at their on-site stand - a process that takes very
little time and involves having a head and shoulders photograph taken.
This picture is then analyzed and measured by computers to create
a personal profile which is used to identify any subsequent photographs
taken during the tournament.
Image Master pix will usually be available online the day after they
were shot. Go to www.worldseriesofpoker.com, and click on the "Shop"
link at the top of the page, and choose "Photo Store." That
immediately brings up the search screen. Type in a player's first
or last name (or both), and then choose the location in "Step
1."
The computer software does the rest, finding all photographs taken
that comply with the name ID and profile attached to it and presenting
these as thumbnail samples for selection or closer examination by
clicking through to a larger image....and the pricelist!
Over 500 players have already signed, among them many of the top professionals.
FaceIT is the brainchild of Image Masters photographer Greg Krantz,
who researched existing software, but found nothing suitable for his
requirements. Most software relies on 3-D full-facial image mapping
or analyzing video footage, which provides more facial angles. Nobody
had a system for analyzing a face from a single still photograph,
and using it to identify other photographs of the same face.
Consequently, Image Masters developed the FaceIT software for themselves,
patenting the technique and constantly improving and fine-tuning the
product so that it was ready and well tested in time for the biggest
poker event of them all - the World Series of Poker.