Yasha Iravantchi, a PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering, working in the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab at the Bob and Betty Beyster Building, on the North Campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

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

reflective tape on a rare earth magnet

Computer scientist Serge Belongie led the effort to create the Visipedia app.

Photo credit: Dave Wargo

Roland Kittredge, Donna Marino, George Bernet, Melinda (Meyer) Moses

To write: a program that finds four leaf clovers.

Rally Stage action from Race Retro 2011 held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire in the UK on the 25th February 2011.

Detail photo of the prototype of the PrivacyLens which places two lenses side-by-side, one that records traditional RGB images and another that records images based on thermal data in the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab at the Bob and Betty Beyster Building on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

PrivacyLens is a hybrid RGB and thermal camera for privacy preserved human centered applications. By adding thermal sensing personally identifiable information is effectively removed with a sanitation rate of 99.1%. Removal of PII is based on five areas of concern: faces, skin color, hair color, gender and body shape.

Photo: Brenda Ahearn/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing

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

the face of a woman with an electronic face on a white background

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

Donington Historic Festival 2013.

Yasha Iravantchi, a PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering, holds the cover of the PrivacyLens prototype as he explains how the system works. In the background fellow PhD student Yang-Hsi Su is testing the system by making exaggerated movements to see how well the PrivacyLens adapts to his motions.

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

Detail photo of the prototype of the PrivacyLens which places two lenses side-by-side, one that records traditional RGB images and another that records images based on thermal data in the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab at the Bob and Betty Beyster Building on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

PrivacyLens is a hybrid RGB and thermal camera for privacy preserved human centered applications. By adding thermal sensing personally identifiable information is effectively removed with a sanitation rate of 99.1%. Removal of PII is based on five areas of concern: faces, skin color, hair color, gender and body shape.

Photo: Brenda Ahearn/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing