Computer image retrieval by features: suspect identification

ABSTRACT

Correct suspect identification of known offenders by witnesses deteriorates rapidly as more are examined in mugshot albums. Feature approaches, where mugshots are displayed in order of similarity to witnesses' descriptions, attempt to increase identification success by reducing this number. A methodology is proposed for system design and evaluation based on experiments, computer simulations, and four classes of system performance measures: identification performance, retrieval rank, tolerance performance, and feature quality. This was used to develop a system for 640 mugshots of known offenders. In three empirical tests, over 90% of witness searches resulted in suspects retrieved in the first eight mugshots.

REFERENCES

• 1: Davies, G.M., Shepherd, J.W. and Ellis, H.D. Effects of interpolated mugshot exposure on accuracy of eyewitness identification. Journal of Applied Psychology, 64(1979), 232-237.
• 2: Ellis, H.D. Practical aspects of facial memory. In Eyewitness testimony: Psychological perspectives, G.L. Wells and E.F. Loftus, Eds. Cambridge University Press, New York, 1984.
• 3: Ellis, H.D., Davies, G.M. and Shepherd, J.W. A critical examination of the Photofit system for recalling faces. Ergonomics, 21(1978), 297-307.
• 4: Ellis, H.D., Shepherd, J.W., Shepherd, J., Klin, R.H. and Davies, G.M. Identification from a computer-driven retrieval system compared with a traditional mug-shot album: A new tool for police investigations, Ergonomics, 32(1989), 167-177.
• 5: Goldstein, A.J., Harmon, L.D. and Lesk, A. Identification of human faces. In Proceedings of the IEEE, 59(1971), 748-760.
• 6: Harmon, L.D. The recognition of faces. Scientific American, 229(1973), 70-82.
• 7: Laugher),, K.R., Alexander, J.F. and Lane, A.B. Recognition of human faces: Effects of target exposure time, target position, pose position, and type of photograph. Journal of Applied Psychology, 51(1971), 477-483.
• 8: Laugher),, K.R., Fessler, P.K., Lenorovitz, D.R. and Yorlick, D.A. Time delay and similarity effects in facial recognition. Journal of Applied Psychology, 59(1974), 490-496.
• 9: Lenorovitz, D.R. and Laughery, K.R. A witnesscomputer interactive system for searching mug files. In Eyewitness testimony, G.Wells and E. Loftus, Eds. Cambridge University Press, New York, 1984.
• 10: J. N. MacGregor , E. S. Lee , T. Whalen, The feature matching approach to the computer retrieval of graphics: an enhancement, Information Services and Use, v.9 n.3, p.127-137, Oct. 1989
• 11: Poulton, E. C. Unwanted range effects from using within-subject experimental designs. Psychological Bulletin, 80(1973), 113-121.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.3 Information Search and Retrieval
          Subjects: Retrieval models
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Theory and methods; Evaluation/methodology

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Human Factors, Theory

Keywords:
computer image retrieval, feature retrieval, information retrieval