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"As a result of developments in facial recognition technology in Google images, Facebook et cetera and the popularisation of portable terminals that append photos with photographic information ... essential measures for preventing the invasion of privacy caused by photographs taken in secret and unintentional capture in camera images is now required."However, as stated in a video demonstrating the visor's original form, the 2013 model was incomplete due to its reliance on the spectral sensitivity that exists between human vision and imaging devices. This means that it could render facial recognition software temporarily unusable only in cameras affected by IR light. To address this vulnerability, Echizen and his team have developed a newer version of the visor that uses a new, unspecified material along a patterned, angled surface to absorb and reflect light back at imaging devices, thereby confusing their sensors. The device also has a titanium frame and is much slicker than its predecessor.
“The Privacy Visor is the world’s first product with this technology,” Isao Echizen told The Wall Street Journal. “We are often told not to unveil our personal information to others, but our faces are also a type of an ID. There should be a way to protect that."Echizen's newest visor is designed for people who spend a great deal of time walking through crowded areas where photographs may be taken without their knowledge. As of this writing, the visor is scheduled to hit the market in June 2016 for a price of ¥30,000 (US $240). Title image courtesy of ShutterStock