Ph.D., another milestone achieved

Post No 19:

Research Topic: Developing Methodologies for parametric reconstruction of Human Face in 3D Environment

A multi-disciplinary research to recreate human face in 3D, an effort to reproduce individual's face from verbal explanation, photographs or skeletal remains. This comprehensive work may give a name to a dead, find a criminal, help surgeon to visualize surgical modifications or anybody to sculpt human face without artistic and technical skills. This research will empower every individual who deals with human face.

While walking towards stage, I was thinking. This Research would not have been possible without the guidance of my thesis guide, Prof.T.M. Kanvinde. 

I want to express my gratitude to all those individuals in various walks of life who shared their time and knowledge discussing with me on human face. Without their perspectives, this study would not have enriched with so many dimensions. — at Symbiosis International University, Lavale.

A long cherished wish that came true. 

Receiving Ph. D. degree from Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju, Hon'ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Government of India.

With my proud family, wife Samiksha Yadav, daughter Diya Yadav, bro Skekhar Yadav, niece Rohini. Credit must also go to Samiksha and Diya for keeping smile on their face, though I snatched their joyful time to adorn my study.

I lovingly dedicate my degree to my mother. 

Mummy, words can never express the deepest gratitude I have for you.

The 2013 Ph.D. Awardees (Standing first row, in white graduation robe) pose for a souvenir photo with Chief Guest, Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju, HRD minister,(seated, forth from left), Dr. Rajani Gupte, Vice Chancellor, SIU, (seated, sixth from left) ,Dr. S. B. Mujumda, Chancellor, SIU. (seated, fifth from left). Myself (Standing first row, fifth from left,in white graduation robe).

and thus another milestone achieved.
A Knowledge-seeker's journey is very funny and mysterious. The moment one goal is achieved, it disappears and another appears ... distance apart, high up on mountain top. Fanatic, curious mind gets off for another expedition. A new mission, again relentless efforts, sleepless nights, rising frustration, craving and yearning for success.
For a layman, it might look very confusing. For him, ignorance is bliss and unknown is fate. 
For a knowledge-seeker, it is the question of existence. For him, goal is to solve every single riddle in the universe. Analyse, discern, understand all mystical real and unreal facts, transfer each entity from unknown to known pocket. The ultimate mission is simple, to understand the truth.
In spite of knowledge is finite and truth is infinite, the saga continues....

Caricature: Abraham Lincoln

Post No: 18

Caricature of Abraham Lincoln, the most famous president of the United States by various artists   

by Jeason Seiler

By Rocksaw

By Robolus

by Court Jones

 

 by Ismael Roldan  

 

By Stuart Kim

By donkeyhotey

Quote by Oscar Wilde

Post No: 17

Quote by Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900)
simply Oscar Wilde.

Face Geek: Paul Ekman- Facial Expression Expert

Post No: 16 

Pauk Ekman, an emeritus professor at the University of California at San Francisco. Born in 1934, relentlessly worked on emotions and Facial expressions, now considered as one of the most eminent psychologists of this era. He is master face reader with tremendous knowledge of nonverbal behavior and interpersonal deception. Paul explored that few basic facial expressions and their corresponding emotions are independent of culture and universal to all humans and preemptively biological as hypothesized by Charles Darwin.  

Paul reported facial microexpressions  that could be used to reliably detect concealed emotions. CIA and FBI is seriously implementing his ideas in lie detection while interviewing terrorists, criminals. His greatest contribution is Facial Action Coding System, is the most exhaustive analysis of all the facial expressions. According to Paul, the basic facial expressions with distinct facial signals are 

1. SADNESS 
2. SURPRISE
3. ANGER
4. CONTEMPT
5. DISGUST
6. FEAR
7. HAPPINESS

Paul Ekman authored several books on facial expressions, some of them are listed below:

   

  

In his book "Unmasking the face" Paul explains how to identify these basic emotions correctly and how to tell when people try to mask, simulate, or neutralize them. In his video "The Art of Deciphering Facial Expressions" demonstrates 'micro-expression'.

His research made a tremendous contribution to the field of clinical psychology, law enforcement, counter-terrorism and crowd management. Please follow this link to read his biography and his research.

http://www.paulekman.com/

Human Face: Robots with ultra real human face

Post No: 15 

Can you checkmate a creative scientist?...
One fine day a scientist told his wife I saw a lady, looked exactly like "YOU" and 
wife asked, "Was she hot ..??"
That moment scientist was checkmated, couldn't reply "Yes" or "No".
But probably that triggered a great idea..and he bounced back.

Can Robot become potential life partner if that has ultra real human face?
Let's check that.

Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro 

Humanoid robots called 'Nao' from the French robotics venture Aldebaran demonstrate their skills during a display at the French Embassy in Tokyo. Aldebaran is providing 30 Naos to Tokyo University for use in an educational program.

David Hanson identifies himself as sculptor-roboticist

David Hanson has turned it into his mission to bring robots to life, attempting to enable them to think and feel. 

The lady in picture in the center is wearing The REALFACE, not a computer graphic image.

The "three-dimension Photo Form (3DPF)" technique from Real-f makes it possible to duplicate pores, eye's blood vessels and iris exactly the same as the originals.
Check few more "THE REALFACE" high resolution samples.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-205_162-10007199.html

A model (R) pokes the face of a humanoid robot called 'Geminoid-F' (L) shaped to resemble the model. Geminoid-F, designed and built by Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro and Japan's robot maker Kokoro, is equipped with 12 actuators, powered by air pressure, and her motion can be synched to imitate that of a real human being.

Check this report on Robot Faces Trigger An Emotional Choice. 
This is just a beginning, we have just triggered the creative mind ...there is lot more to come

Identical Twins and Recognition.

Post No 14:
Human Face >> Science >> Biology >> Genetics

Identical Twins are not clones but result of single fertilized egg splitting into two separate embryos. In scientific terms it is referred as monozygomatic. 

It becomes very difficult to identify subtle differences that differentiates mirror like individual. If you really want to stress your identification skills then you must visit Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. 
Facial variation in genetically identical twins can be exaggerated by engaging them in separate environmental conditions.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/twins/schoeller-photography#/1

A famous book Identical: Portraits of Twins By Martin Schoeller (Author) 

Curious mind raises many questions such as, Can Biometrcs ID an Identical Twin?

But it is found that sometimes many twin faces confound various Facial Recognition software. The best performing algorithm has 17-18 percent equal error rate which should be  under 5 percent. Still, Scientists are studying relentlessly to solve this riddle. One of the paper is "Analysis of Facial Features in Identical Twins" by Brendan Klare, Alessandra A. Paulino, and Anil K. Jain. 

Although, Close friends and even Mom and Dad can be duped by their identical twins, But interesting fact is they can't dupe dogs? and they also have different fingerprints. Also, as identical twins get older, generally more differences in physical characteristics develop. 

Quote by Pablo Picasso - Part 2

Post No: 13

Continuing from the Blog-Post : Quote by Pablo Picasso - Part 1
Picasso was an artist that groomed in the classical tradition then influenced contemporary art his svelte manner using wide range of styles. Emphatic strokes, harsh vivid colors in his artworks exhibits his insatiable desires, volcanic energy and revolting attitude. As Picasso said, "I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them."

Picasso asks, "Who sees the human face correctly: the Photographer, the mirror or the painter?"
I see deep meaning in this quote but before that we must construe his thoughts hidden in his self-portraits.

Self-portrait with Uncombed Hair (1896)

Self Portrait: "Yo Picasso" (spring 1901)

Self-portrait "Yo" (summer 1901)

Self-portrait with Cloak (late 1901)

Self-portrait with a Palette (1906)

Self-portrait (1907)

Self Portrait Facing Death” (1972) 

The series of self-portraits and other creative works of Picasso reflects revolt in his mind in various guises, disguises and eventually emerging his grand persona.  

What my mind could see by observing these autobiographical portraits and understand by his colloquial writing is something like this.
Mirror reflects all the details and triggers our self-awareness. For the same reason invention of mirror triggered our attention towards face and makeup. In spite of that we perceive very few facts of our face. Our Mind observes only what interests us. We can neither associated memory nor emotions with reflection as it is a momentary glimpse. 
Cameras can imprint snapshot of the moment, thus a photograph may establish eternal connection with intense emotions, drama involved in that particular situation. It all depends on cameraman to delineate subject with dramatic lighting. Although Camera cannot peep into the emotional conflicts in the mind of subject. 
A painter has freedom of thought which can be expressed using media. He can depict his views, feelings about subject in his own manner. Obviously, Painter illustrates whole drama where canvas becomes his stage, eloquent strokes becomes expressions and colors reveals emotions.

Spotlight: Attractive faces are average faces

Post No: 12 

Average Women faces in different countries by FaceResearch.org.

Image credit: http://9gag.com/

FaceResearch lab run by Ben Jones and Lisa DeBruine,  is based in the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Glasgow, has published results of experiments on Facial Attractiveness. 
The concept of average faces was initially tossed in the 1800s by Sir Francis Galton who created composite images of faces by projecting face photographs of many different individuals onto a single piece of photographic film. Now with the advent of technology scientists are experimenting with digital composites, photographs aligned by pupils position followed by standardizing face position.
In "Facial Shape and judgments of female attractiveness" paper submitted by D. I. Perrett, K.A. May and S. Yoshikawa, found out that highly attractive faces are systematically different in shape from average. the similarity of attractive facial characteristics across two cultures is consistent with the claim that such characteristics are functionally significant.