Denise Haze

Hewlett Packard today demonstrated a new color matching technology that could change the way people shop for products that require color coordination, such as cosmetics.HP Labs, the company’s central research arm, has developed a technology that uses sophisticated imaging algorithms and mobile networking to match colors that complement one another, including makeup specific to skin coloring.

Retailers, consumer goods and other companies that require a high level of color or image coordination could implement the technology to offer services that help their customers select the right products for their needs.

The color matching technology, which is currently in prototype, builds on HP’s expertise in imaging, color science, mobility and networking

This is how it works, instead of sitting down with a consultant at a beauty counter, a shopper photographs herself using a mobile phone camera and while holding a specially designed color chart. The person then sends the photo as an MMS (multimedia message) to an advisory service. That system locates the person’s face within the image and color corrects the image for camera and lighting discrepancies.

Skin pixels are extracted from the color corrected image of the person’s face, and then compared to an existing database of previously captured and analyzed images of skin tones of real people. In a matter of seconds, people using the service receive a text message response with a recommendation on the shades of makeup that are best suited to their complexion.

The technology can work with any mobile operator and on any mobile phone equipped with a camera. Photos demonstrating the color matching technology are available at www.hpl.hp.com/about/media/mobile_image/

iGoogle

Heard from the Google System blog that Google plans on launching a new service called iGoogle which will allow users to share their own writings, photos, lists and other creative efforts, as well as to give consumers personalised views of the Web through use of their geographical location and search history. From the Blog it says users can do 7 things for now which are…

1. Photo album - add up to 7 photos that can be rotated.

2. GoogleGram - enter seven greeting messages.

3. Daily Me - type what you are doing.

4. Countdown - count the days until a special event.

5. Simple list - you can use it as a ToDo list, shopping list.

6. YouTube videos - up to 10 videos.

7. Freeform gadget - add an image and some text.

Thank God its FRIDAY it has been just a beutiful week here and i have been waiting all week long to have the weekend off to go out and have some outdoor fun. First I think I will play a round of putt putt golf then head out on the boat to do some fishing . Then get back on land and go eat out at my favorite resteraunt which has an outdoor patio. After that I figure a night out on the town clubbing with friends will be jsut the thing I need. Anyways wanted to possibly get some ideas of other things to do this weekend and was wondering what everyone out there does in the nice weather comes?

Seems that Motorola has applied for a patent for a solar powered cellphone and although it will probably not be enough to fully recharge the phone it will help for those days when you just can not plug in to the wall. Should be interesting to see just how good it works and how much it charges for I would certainatly buy one when it comes to a store near me.

Have been studying up on how to make my own Wordpress them I think I will go with a 4 colum design so I can show off my flickr and YouTube videos more. Not sure when it will be done but when it is you will see it here first. Anyone know where the Worpdress mobile plug in is please send me the link.