Google is working on an alternative method for classifying skin tones, as the standard method has been found to be inappropriate for determining whether skin color discrimination is present in new products.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – June 25, 2021 – Technology
The Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Scale has been used by dermatologists since the 1970s, and technology companies now rely on it to test the performance of products like smartwatches and heart rate monitors on skin tones. The Fitzpatrick scale divides skin tones into six types, of which four are fair skin tones, and only one shade is provided for dark and dark skin. In other words, this scale does not provide for the categorization of skin types of people of the non-Caucasian race.
US Department of Homeland Security researchers have recommended that the Fitzpatrick scale be abandoned for testing facial recognition systems, as it is not suitable for determining skin tones in a country’s heterogeneous population.
“We are working on an alternative, a more inclusive scale that will be useful for the development of our products, and intend to partner with experts in the field of science and medicine, as well as groups working with communities of color,” – said representatives of Google, without providing any details about the new development.
Nowadays, it is very important that technologies work correctly for people of different nationalities, ages, and genders. As new products are released, particularly with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, it is vital to categorize skin tones correctly, as these products are often used by law enforcement and healthcare organizations.
In their own research, Facebook experts also concluded that the Fitzpatrick scale “clearly does not cover the diversity of brown and black skin tones.”
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Source: Ukrgate