Privacy Visor: Method Based on Light Absorbing and Reflecting Properties for Preventing Face Image Detection

A method is proposed for preventing unauthorized face image revelation through unintentional capture of facial images. Methods such as covering the face and painting particular patterns on the face effectively prevent detection of facial images but hinder face-to-face communication. The proposed method overcomes this problem through the use of a device worn on the face that corrupts the Haar-like features through the use of light absorbing and reflecting materials, which makes faces in captured images mostly undetectable. The device is similar in appearance to a pair of eyeglasses, so face-to-face communication is only slightly hindered, and it does not need a power supply. Testing of a prototype "privacy visor" showed that captured facial images are sufficiently corrupted to prevent unauthorized face image revelation by face detection.