Toppan Deploys USC Light Stage in Search for New Biometric Applications

Toppan Printing has set up a Virtual Human Lab that will be used to gather a wealth of information about the human body. The Lab will collect that data using a Light Stage that comes courtesy of the University of Southern California (USC).

The Light Stage is a spherical dome outfitted with multiple light sources, which can in turn be used to take the measurements of someone inside the sphere. The Stage is capable of facial recognition, and can measure other parts of the body (such as hands and feet) and track the movements of the musculoskeletal system. It is also sensitive to the more subtle nuances of tone and texture.

Toppan is planning to use the information collected through the Stage to build a Human Body Information Platform. That Platform is expected to make it easier for companies to deliver more personalized services to their customers, since they will be able to leverage the information to streamline registration and processing procedures.

The company is also hoping that the Platform will unlock new applications and services in a number of different industries. For example, the ability to read tone and texture gives the platform potential utility in fashion and cosmetics. Toppan itself is planning to release a smartphone app and an online information viewer to make its data output more accessible.

“In establishing a platform for information on the human body, we intend to enhance functions for measurement and enable the use of the data to help businesses generate new services matched to their targets and individuals,” said Toppan R&D Strategy and Business Development Executive Jin Endo. “We will engage in co-creation with customers from wide-ranging sectors to expand the use of the Light Stage and explore innovative applications that stretch the imagination.”

The USC Light Stage has previously been used in the film industry. Toppan, meanwhile, previously partnered with D-ID to sell the latter’s de-identification platform to third party customers in the ASEAN region.

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December 23, 2020 – by Eric Weiss