PrivacyLens
Detail photo of a stick figure created by the prototype of the PrivacyLens in the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab at the Bob and Betty Beyster Building on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The camera begins by recording an image of a person, but only sends out a stick figure. These key point stick figures protect privacy while allowing devices to track the location and movement of people.
This phototype camera, called PrivacyLens, was designed by Yasha Iravantchi, a doctoral student of computer science and engineering, and Alanson Sample, an associate professor of computer science and engineering, to protect people's privacy in devices that use cameras for sensing. Such devices, including roombas, automated vehicles, and home assistant technologies, such as Alexa, use cameras to avoid collisions or monitor health, fitness, and activity in the home. Those same cameras increase the risk of sensitive, personal information leaking on the internet. PrivacyLens replaces humans with stick figures in the recorded images, so that the devices can register that people are present without putting an individual's privacy at risk.
Photo: Brenda Ahearn/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing
PrivacyLens
Detail photo of a stick figure created by the prototype of the PrivacyLens in the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab at the Bob and Betty Beyster Building on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The camera begins by recording an image of a person, but only sends out a stick figure. These key point stick figures protect privacy while allowing devices to track the location and movement of people.
This phototype camera, called PrivacyLens, was designed by Yasha Iravantchi, a doctoral student of computer science and engineering, and Alanson Sample, an associate professor of computer science and engineering, to protect people's privacy in devices that use cameras for sensing. Such devices, including roombas, automated vehicles, and home assistant technologies, such as Alexa, use cameras to avoid collisions or monitor health, fitness, and activity in the home. Those same cameras increase the risk of sensitive, personal information leaking on the internet. PrivacyLens replaces humans with stick figures in the recorded images, so that the devices can register that people are present without putting an individual's privacy at risk.
Photo: Brenda Ahearn/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing