How scientists can identify criminals by enhancing their reflection in a victim's EYE by zooming in on photos

  • New study shows the pupils of photographed crime victims can help authorities spot their attackers
  • Zooming in on high-resolution passport-style photographs can provide information about witnesses, bystanders and where the crime occurred 
  • The technology will benefit investigators looking into cases where the victims are photographed, such as hostage situations and sex crimes

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 15:47 EST, 27 December 2013 | UPDATED: 18:20 EST, 27 December 2013

Police could soon be using the reflections of people and objects in the eyes of victims and witnesses to crimes to solve cases, a study revealed today.

'The pupil of the eye is like a black mirror,' lead researcher Dr Jenkins said.

'Eyes in the photographs could reveal where you were and who you were with.'

Jenkins said it was possible for low-resolution passport photos to be 'mined' for information, such as faces of witnesses, bystanders, locations and environmental sign-posts, to help law enforcers piece together a criminal narrative.

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Crime fighting: A new study has found people are excellent at recognizing the faces of familiar people reflected in the pupils of portrait subjects

Crime fighting: A new study has found people are excellent at recognizing the faces of familiar people reflected in the pupils of portrait subjects

He said this technique would be particularly useful in crimes in which victims are photographed, such as hostage-taking and child sex abuse.

In the study, Jenkins and the University of Glasgow's Christie Kerr photographed eight individuals, who were themselves looking at four people who were behind the camera.

Study subjects were asked to either match the images to a series of mug shots, or to identify people who were familiar to them in the eye reflections.

 

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The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found test subjects were able to spot familiar faces reflected in the pupils of someone who was photographed 84 percent of the time.

When the reflected images were of unfamiliar people, observers were able to match the person to a second mug shot with 71 percent accuracy.


Test: This extract from a lineup of reflected images from photographs was used in the experiment

Test: This extract from a lineup of reflected images from photographs was used in the experiment

Test subjects were able to spot familiar faces reflected in the pupils of someone who was photographed 84% of the time, researchers said.

'In the context of criminal investigations, this could be used to piece together networks of associates, or to link individuals to particular locations,' Jenkins, from the University of York, told Kurzweil Artificial Intelligence.

'This may be especially important when for categories of crime in which perpetrators photograph their victims. Reflections in the victims eyes could reveal the identity of the photographer.

'Also, around 40 million photographs per day are uploaded to Instagram alone.

'Faces are among the most frequently photographed objects. Our study serves as a reminder to be careful what you upload.'

However Kerr noted the forensic value of these photos was limited because they must be shot in high- resolution and the subject must be looking directly at the camera.

'For now, our findings suggest a novel application for high-resolution photography: for crimes in which victims are photographed, corneal image analysis could be useful for identifying perpetrators,' the study authors wrote.

The study noted that the word pupil comes from the Latin word pupilla, which can mean young girl or doll, and conveys the idea that when one looks into someone else's eyes, they see a tiny doll-like version of themselves reflected back.



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University of New York !! Yeah had to be the U.S.A live in their own little bubble bless em

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Utter rubbish.

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How convenient. If you just happen to take a photo at the moment of the crime. And if the photo is on film rather than digital, since pixellation will negate the effect.

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But, have you ever seen a video or still pic from a crime? It's like, ok, I am going to put the crappiest camera I can find in this high crime area to catch bad guys, maybe. I like bikes. And, shiny things.

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No one remembers Twin Peaks?

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lol so now the victim has to tell the killer, please buy a HD camera, point at them and make the light is good cos night time is bad, lol and if the killer use a good lawyer, as it is a moment in time, and doesnt mean they kill them. as it is only split second photo

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So now....'close your eyes'....will be a requirement for trophy photos.

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The DM really will just print anything.....

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Bladerunner.

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The eyes have it. Even if it doesn't work 100% of the time, I wouldn't turn my nose up at the possibility that an image of the one taking the photo might be the killer and be clear enough to enable the perp to be captured and a cold case to be closed.

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