MIT researchers have come up with an algorithm that can predict how wrinkles will form on a face – or any other surface – according to a Daily Mail article by Mark Prigg. The researchers’ new mathematical theory, which they say has been borne out in experiments, was recently published in the journal Nature Materials.According to the researchers, the the main determinant in the formation of wrinkles is curvature, which determines the wrinkle pattern, which will take a more crystalline lattice-work form if the object is more curved. Another major factor is the thickness of the surface layer.
If sufficiently accurate, the algorithm could have important biometric applications, particularly in the realm of facial recognition. Law enforcement investigators, who have readily embraced the biometric technology, could use it to determine how the effects of aging have altered the faces of individuals whose mugshots are on record, for example. Even beyond facial recognition, the algorithm could help the NIST in its efforts to find technology that can match images of tattoos in criminal investigations – again, calculating how aging has wrinkled the skin holding the tattoo. It’s a bit too early to run wild with speculation, but it’s a fair bet that law enforcement officials will be paying attention to this research project going forward.
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February 3, 2015 – by Alex Perala
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