“You look like a girl” may have been the ultimate ’60s-era father-to-son put-down. But while dad may have thought he knew best, only a computer can tell for sure.A new computer classification technology, created by Pennsylvania State University researchers, actually exceeds humans at correctly identifying a person’s gender. Using nose, mouth, eye and voice cues, the system is correct nearly 100 percent of the time, while humans consistently score in the low 90s. “It’s automatic and nearly foolproof,” says Rajeev Sharma, the research team’s leader and a Penn State associate professor of computer science and engineering. The system is based on support vector machine (SVM) software, a sophisticated pattern-recognition technology used for a variety of difficult separation-oriented tasks, such as scanning tissue cell samples for abnormalities. Sharma and his researchers developed SVM software designed expressly for face and voice recognition. “It seemed like a natural extension of the technology,” he says.To test its creation, the team linked the software to a camera and examined 1,755 thumbnail facial images that were cropped to show only eyes, noses and mouths. A separate audio-enabled SVM was trained on voice samples that included just fractions of a second of voice data. A manager program then fused the results and made the final gender classifications. “It’s the combination of the two sources that makes the recognition rate so high,” says Sharma. Sharma says the system can easily be applied to security situations in which it’s critical to determine an individual’s sex. For example, the technology could be used to signal an alert whenever an unauthorized individual tries to enter a monitored rest room, fitting room or dormitory. The technology also promises to help marketers. “It could be used to see how many men versus women sit behind the wheel of a particular car or purchase a certain brand of soap,” says Sharma. “It takes the ambiguity out of sexual identification.” Related content brandpost Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks Operational technology systems require a robust Zero Trust strategy in 2024 Zero Trust provides a foundation for creating a stronger security posture in 2024. By Navneet Singh, vice president of marketing, network security, Palo Alto Networks Dec 05, 2023 6 mins Security brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM How digital twin technology is changing complex industrial processes forever As the use cases for digital twins proliferate, it is becoming clear that data-driven enterprises with a track record of innovation stand the best chance of success. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM Why modernising applications needs to be a ‘must’ for businesses seeking growth Around one-third of enterprises are spending heavily on application modernisation and aiming for cloud native status. The implications for corporate culture, structure and priorities will be profound. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation opinion 11 ways to reduce your IT costs now Reorienting IT’s budget toward future opportunities is a big reason why CIOs should review their IT portfolios with an eye toward curbing unnecessary spending and realizing maximum value from every IT investment. By Stephanie Overby Dec 05, 2023 11 mins Budget Cloud Management IT Governance Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe