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Team Creates Footwear Recognition System

Zothecula writes "Facial recognition might be all the rage in giving computer systems the ability to ascertain the identity of individuals — what with most people having different facial features and all. But a team from the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam, Germany, has taken a different approach to identify users of touch-based tabletop computers like Microsoft's Surface. Instead of focusing on the face, the team has looked in the opposite direction to develop a system known as Bootstrapper, which distinguishes between users based on their footwear ."

50 comments

  1. First post. by Mal-2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I don't get first post, I guess I was busy changing my shoes.

    Seriously, the system is going to break the first time these developers are introduced to WOMEN.

    --
    How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
    1. Re:First post. by jamesh · · Score: 2

      If I don't get first post, I guess I was busy changing my shoes.

      Seriously, the system is going to break the first time these developers are introduced to WOMEN.

      It could be useful at nightclubs though "Seriously... those shoes with _that_ dress? You have to be kidding me. Go away".

    2. Re:First post. by mwvdlee · · Score: 2

      "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Davina".

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    3. Re:First post. by Nimloth · · Score: 1

      I think they already got help from a woman, I've seen a documentary on the process on TV the other day...

    4. Re:First post. by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Seriously, the system is going to break the first time these developers are introduced to WOMEN.

      No, it will break the first time somebody who bought the same style of shoes as you sits down at your terminal and pens a nasty email to the CEO. Less liklihood with women, who HATE it when any part of their apparrel is the same as another woman's.

  2. Second? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Considering the amount of women with 50+ pairs of shoes, GOOD LUCK... Nice shoes, btw

  3. Whatcouldpossiblygowrong? by bjourne · · Score: 1

    Insert the obligatory comment about how one could easily fool this sytem and therefore their research is completely useless. The researchers did not think about people changing their shoes, but the slashdotters did!

  4. Before you break into a mans computer... by jamesh · · Score: 2

    Before you break into a mans computer, first walk a mile in his shoes.

    1. Re:Before you break into a mans computer... by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      Once again RMS' foresight reveals itself - this is why he always wears sandals, it causes the system to throw an error :-P

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  5. useless by Karmashock · · Score: 0

    totally... utterly... useless.

    Footwear? I mean... I could see doing something based on scanning people's feet like you do their finger prints. But... their shoes? Really?

    You might as well classify people by their choice in beverages.

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    1. Re:useless by somersault · · Score: 1

      You might as well classify people by their choice in beverages.

      People do that all the time.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:useless by davewoods · · Score: 1

      But they do not do it in order to secure whatever type of computer system they happen to be using.

    3. Re:useless by somersault · · Score: 1

      I didn't say it was a valid concept, I just said that people do it! People are stupid. :p

      --
      which is totally what she said
  6. Team Creates Footwear Recognition System by jamesh · · Score: 4, Funny

    Team Creates Footwear Recognition System

    Did the team consist of Sheldon and Penny?

  7. designed by the introverted, for the introverted by r00t · · Score: 5, Funny

    How do you recognize an extroverted engineer? He looks at **your** shoes.

  8. first and last time i RTFA by aepurniet · · Score: 1

    i honestly thought there would be sensors in the floor, to determine foot size, gate, and pressure differences while walking and standing.

    honestly though this seems more like an exercise than a full fledged effort at the problem.

    1. Re:first and last time i RTFA by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      I first thought it would be a system to recognize shoeprint, size, stance, etc. perhaps using a large grid of tiny pressure sensors or a camera facing upward through a transparent floor or something really clever. Instead it's just a far less capable version of facial recognition.

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    2. Re:first and last time i RTFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless I'm missing something (quite likely), visual recognition still has a long way to go. I'd be impressed if someone wrote a system that could determine objects based on a fraction of an image of that object. To identify an 'F' as an 'F', no matter the orientation or to identify a Cessna 310, simply by seeing a section of the tail--that would impress me.

      Some code like that, I would think, would be much better than cheap tricks and gimmicks. It'd be interesting to see OCR or a search engine, based on partial objects. Was hoping Google Goggles was up to par, although, didn't have much success when playing with it.

      Anyone know of any projects like Zdenek Kalal's OpenTLD? It'd be nice to play with similar ideas, not bound to developers with a Matlab license.

    3. Re:first and last time i RTFA by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      I thought it would recognize footprints and compare minor details, the same way tire treads can be traced back to cars.

      But this looks at the top of your shoes instead. If you want to be anonymous just wear black formal shoes, they all look the same.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  9. In a recessionary economy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some people will do anything to look busy!

  10. CSI:Heidelberg / Bloodhound by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    I'm sure I've seen this on one of the many CSI cities already: the wall screen flashes pictures of shoes from the national strategic shoe database, until it stops with a match. Guilty person found.

    Hmmm . . . Hasso Plattner? SAP founder? What does SAP want to do with this footwear recognition system . . . ?

    Half seriously, why not get a bloodhound to sniff the shoes? It should be able to recognize someone who is naughty or someone who is nice, friend or foe, really fast.

    Although, when the poor critter has to smell my shoes in the summer, it would roll over and die . . .

    --
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  11. no long arms aloud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    so user A leans over tablet surface and 'touches' user Bs area even though a distinct set of shoes are shown on user As and user Bs side of the unit?

    sounds like fail.

  12. And then... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A new level of pointless technology was reached.

  13. Mod OP up/down to by vikingpower · · Score: 1

    **idle**

    --
    Religous speak to God. Insane are spoken to by God. When all shut up, one can finally hear Shostakovich in peace
  14. Future email to sysadmins by rcasha2 · · Score: 2

    "I think someone stole my shoes. I need new shoes."

    "My shoes were hacked!"

  15. Women look at shoes first; men look at asses first by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Seriously, the system is going to break the first time these developers are introduced to WOMEN."

    The developers clearly are women. If it was developed by men it would be an ass recognition system.

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  16. Microsoft's Scarface by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 1

    Microsoft's Scarface, yes that is how I first read it, honestly. That it may also be considered offensive, I take that as a bonus.

    What can you think of rhyming with "Microsoft's Scarface"?

  17. Yet another nifty yet useless prototype... by zedrdave · · Score: 1

    And it will work so much better than facial recognition, because no two people wear the same shoes. And people always wear the same pair of shoes to play games.

  18. Aren't most shoes mass produced? by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 1

    Who thought this was a good idea. Most shoes are mass produced. I bought mine off the shelf at a store that had 10 more just like them in various sizes. Exactly who was it who thought that what type of footwear someone wears would be unique to that person.

    --
    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
    1. Re:Aren't most shoes mass produced? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I work with the military we all have the exact same shoe (aside for size)
      I'm going to guess it would have a little trouble for us.

  19. so sad. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

    i can tell you right now that they have gotten a patent on this already and probably for recognizing everything from socks to shirts to hair styles.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  20. BANG! by RedHat+Rocky · · Score: 1

    So, they watch Big Bang in Germany?

    Or are the Big Bang writers secret followers of Hackerdom?

    Bazinga!

    --
    Anything is possible given time and money.
    1. Re:BANG! by sexconker · · Score: 1

      So, they watch Big Bang in Germany?

      Or are the Big Bang writers secret followers of Hackerdom?

      Bazinga!

      Project SHOE

  21. Rule 36 by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 2

    Techie shoe fetishists?

    --
    Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
  22. Didn't Penny already create an app for this? by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 1

    Didn't Penny already create an app for this?

    1. Re:Didn't Penny already create an app for this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well she was interested only in the shoes not the person wearing them.

  23. Tiny Feet by kiehlster · · Score: 1

    If this could determine shoe size, then there will be a sudden demand for engineers and scientists with tiny feet working for the defense department. You could fake someone's iris and fingerprints, but unless you can fit into a very small pair of shoes, you're not going to have much luck. And that would probably eliminate a good portion of the American population from defense contracting.

    1. Re:Tiny Feet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...but unless you can fit into a very small pair of shoes, you're not going to have much luck

      Unless I just cut off the feet while they still have the shoes on them.

  24. Sneaky! by VortexCortex · · Score: 1

    So, they could install these sensors to track me from place to place without my knowledge?

    Hmm.... [tiptoes away]

  25. Dummest. Idea. Ever. by pscottdv · · Score: 0

    n/t

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    this signature has been removed due to a DMCA takedown notice

  26. Snooping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just an excuse to put a webcam under the desk.

  27. explain to me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    explain to me why the best way to identify people with a touch screen would not be their fingerprint....

    1. Re:explain to me by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      Resolution?

  28. Not gonna work so well by russotto · · Score: 1

    Bootstrapper, allow me to introduce you to the modern miracle of mass production. Mass production, meet bootstrapper. OK, now, break's over, mass production -- get back to work.

  29. That is nothing... try a little higher.... by Wdi · · Score: 1

    Japanese researchers have recently created a system which identifies drivers by recognizing their asses in the driver's seat:

    http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20111213D13JSN01.htm

  30. Ha! Anyone can change shoes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...alternative is, distinguish users based on the skid marks on their underwear!

    Oh, you don't wear underwear? Time to start researching butt cheek distinguishability...

  31. Re:Women look at shoes first; men look at asses fi by Xupa · · Score: 1

    Seriously, an ass recognition system would break the first time it was introduced to WOMEN! OHH!

  32. Wreck a nice feat (n/t) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (This post intentionally left almost blank)