Novel methods for real-time 3D facial recognition

In this paper we discuss our approach to real-time 3D face recognition. We argue the need for real time operation in a realistic scenario and highlight the required pre- and post-processing operations for effective 3D facial recognition. We focus attention to some operations including face and eye detection, and fast post-processing operations such as hole filling, mesh smoothing and noise removal. We consider strategies for hole filling such as bilinear and polynomial interpolation and Laplace and conclude that bilinear interpolation is preferred. Gaussian and moving average smoothing strategies are compared and it is shown that moving average can have the edge over Gaussian smoothing. The regions around the eyes normally carry a considerable amount of noise and strategies for replacing the eyeball with a spherical surface and the use of an elliptical mask in conjunction with hole filling are compared. Results show that the elliptical mask with hole filling works well on face models and it is simpler to implement. Finally performance issues are considered and the system has demonstrated to be able to perform real-time 3D face recognition in just over 1s 200ms per face model for a small database

Developing Interaction 3D Models for E-Learning Applications

Some issues concerning the development of interactive 3D models for e-learning applications are considered. Given that 3D data sets are normally large and interactive display demands high performance computation, a natural solution would be placing the computational burden on the client machine rather than on the server. Mozilla and Google opted for a combination of client-side languages, JavaScript and OpenGL, to handle 3D graphics in a web browser (Mozilla 3D and O3D respectively). Based on the O3D model, core web technologies are considered and an example of the full process involving the generation of a 3D model and their interactive visualization in a web browser is described. The challenging issue of creating realistic 3D models of objects in the real world is discussed and a method based on line projection for fast 3D reconstruction is presented. The generated model is then visualized in a web browser. The experiments demonstrate that visualization of 3D data in a web browser can provide quality user experience. Moreover, the development of web applications are facilitated by O3D JavaScript extension allowing web designers to focus on 3D contents generation

Real-time 3D Face Recognition using Line Projection and Mesh Sampling

The main contribution of this paper is to present a novel method for automatic 3D face recognition based on sampling a 3D mesh structure in the presence of noise. A structured light method using line projection is employed where a 3D face is reconstructed from a single 2D shot. The process from image acquisition to recognition is described with focus on its real-time operation. Recognition results are presented and it is demonstrated that it can perform recognition in just over one second per subject in continuous operation mode and thus, suitable for real time operation

Efficient 3D data compression through parameterization of free-form surface patches

This paper presents a new method for 3D data compression based on parameterization of surface patches. The technique is applied to data that can be defined as single valued functions; this is the case for 3D patches obtained using standard 3D scanners. The method defines a number of mesh cutting planes and the intersection of planes on the mesh defines a set of sampling points. These points contain an explicit structure that allows us to define parametrically both x and y coordinates. The z values are interpolated using high degree polynomials and results show that compressions over 99% are achieved while preserving the quality of the mesh

Partial Differential Equations for 3D Data Compression and Reconstruction

This paper describes a PDE-based method for 3D reconstruction of surface patches. The PDE method is exploited using data obtained from standard 3D scanners. First the original surface data are intersected by a number of cutting planes whose intersection points on the mesh are represented by Fourier transforms in each plane. Information on the number of vertices and scale of the surface are defined and, together, these efficiently define the compressed data. The PDE method is then applied at the reconstruction stage by defining PDE surface patches between the cutting planes

Paz en perspectiva: el desarrollo histórico de la Investigación para la Paz y el concepto bahá'í

This article has as objective to discuss how the peace concept evolved along with the history, and subsequently, to examine how this concept dialogue with the perspective provided by Bahá’í Faith according to authoritative texts and experts. Aiming to provide an overview for a discussion of a term in flux, this exploratory analysis was conducted aiming to respond to the following question: which are the interfaces between the discussion on peace developed by Peace Studies and the conceptual framework provided also on peace by Bahá’í Faith? The research shows that there are intersections both in concepts of peace and violence. Moreover, Bahá’í Faith brings an additional contribution to Peace Studies, which is a unique discussion on human nature and the principle of the oneness of mankind.Este artículo tiene como objetivo discutir cómo evolucionó el concepto de paz a lo largo de la historia y, posteriormente, examinar cómo este concepto dialoga con la perspectiva proporcionada por la Fé Bahá'í según sus textos autorizados y expertos. Con el objetivo de proporcionar una descripción general para una discusión en desarrollo, este análisis exploratorio se realizó con el objetivo de responder a la siguiente pregunta: ¿cuáles son las interfaces entre la discusión sobre la paz desarrollada por Peace Studies (Investigación para la Paz) y el marco conceptual proporcionado también sobre la paz por la Fé Bahá’í? La investigación muestra que existen intersecciones tanto en los conceptos de paz como de violencia. Además, la Fé Bahá'í aporta una contribución adicional a los Estudios de la Paz, que es una discusión única sobre la naturaleza humana y el principio de unidad de la humanidad

A Review of 'Law's Impunity: Responsibility and the Modern Private Military Company'

The mercenaries and mercenarism are two points of concern for scholars studying the rules of war throughout history. Both in jus ad bellum (JAB) and jus in bellum (JIB) we can find a framework of international law crafted to impede the participation of individuals motivated to take part in hostilities to get private gain. Nevertheless, paradoxically, the problem is when corporations are supported by domestic law to perform serviced in ground combats abroad. In the latter case, Human Rights Law (HRL), International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Criminal Law (ICL) present numerous gaps that make it difficult to incriminate corporations, which perpetuate the impunity among private organizations involved in human rights violations in conflict zones

A Review of 'Law's Impunity: Responsibility and the Modern Private Military Company'

The mercenaries and mercenarism are two points of concern for scholars studying the rules of war throughout history. Both in jus ad bellum (JAB) and jus in bellum (JIB) we can find a framework of international law crafted to impede the participation of individuals motivated to take part in hostilities to get private gain. Nevertheless, paradoxically, the problem is when corporations are supported by domestic law to perform serviced in ground combats abroad. In the latter case, Human Rights Law (HRL), International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Criminal Law (ICL) present numerous gaps that make it difficult to incriminate corporations, which perpetuate the impunity among private organizations involved in human rights violations in conflict zones

A Review of ‘Human Insecurities in Southeast Asia’

Debates on human insecurities are crucial in a changing world that witnesses high social inequality, degradation of environment, social tensions and a growing violation of human rights. Unfortunately, all these issues permeate the social structures of Southeast Asian countries in different ways. In that region civil society faces problems that are diverse, as seen in the political tensions in Thailand, the deterritorialization of indigenous peoples in Philippines and Malaysia, human rights violations in Myanmar, and numerous other challenges. Such setting demands different approaches from institutions and communities to overcome pending risks threatening their populations

A Review of 'Human Insecurities in Southeast Asia'

Debates on human insecurities are crucial in a changing world that witnesses high social inequality, degradation of environment, social tensions and a growing violation of human rights. Unfortunately, all these issues permeate the social structures of Southeast Asian countries in different ways. In that region civil society faces problems that are diverse, as seen in the political tensions in Thailand, the deterritorialization of indigenous peoples in Philippines and Malaysia, human rights violations in Myanmar, and numerous other challenges. Such setting demands different approaches from institutions and communities to overcome pending risks threatening their populations