--------------------------------------- faceLAB Version 3.2.2 - June 2004 Copyright Seeing Machines 2004 --------------------------------------- About This Release ------------------ This is a maintenance release (+0.0.1 point upgrade) for faceLAB 3.2, which addresses several issues as listed below. Summary of Improvements Version 3.2.2 ------------------------------------- * Now supports Sony FCB-EX480B cameras * Fixed a bug with the Tracking Features slider, where the slider would sometimes show zero, rather than the actual number of features being tracked. Summary of Improvements Version 3.2.1 ------------------------------------- * Now supports Intel Prescott processor. * Fixed a camera calibration bug that, with certain camera configurations, caused a rare crash during headmodel initialization. (TT#957) IMPORTANT - Upgrading from faceLAB 3.0 to 3.2 --------------------------------------------- IF you are upgrading from faceLAB 3.0 to 3.2 it is important you uninstall 3.0 before you install faceLAB 3.2. This can be done using the "Add/Remove Programs" utility in the windows Control Panel. Note that uninstalling faceLAB 3.0 will NOT delete your data files (e.g. world models, stereo-heads etc). The faceLAB 3.2 installation includes utilities to convert 3.0 and 3.1 data files for use with faceLAB 3.2. (See the following section.) IMPORTANT - Stereo-Head files ----------------------------- Stereo-Heads created using previous versions of faceLAB will not work under faceLAB 3.2. You will need to re-calibrate your Stereo-Head. Summary of Improvements Version 3.2.0 ------------------------------------- * The option of calibrating using a Calibration Key instead of emailing the calibration data to the Seeing Machines server is now available in the Camera Calibration Wizard. See below for an explanation on how to use this feature. * faceLAB data may now be logged using the serial port. See below for an explanation on how to use this feature. * Automatic head-model building has been improved under infra-red conditions. Summary of Improvements Version 3.1.2 ------------------------------------- * Fixed a bug where bias could be introduced into the gaze pitch data when using a Stereo-Head tilt greater than about 20 degrees. (TT#918) * Fixed an occasional crash that occurred when automatically selecting feature points. (TT#915) * Fixed a bug where the size of the Screen Intersection Display (SID) was not resizing correctly when the size of the World Screen was adjusted. (TT#914) Summary of Improvements Version 3.1.1 ------------------------------------- * Fixed a bug where faceLAB, when auto initializing a head model, would sometimes choose templates that included the iris. The effect of this was that for some subjects, the tracking would appear to be working well, but when the subject looked up or down, a bias would be introduced into the head-pose estimate that could mask the eye movement in the gaze data. (TT#900) * Fixed a bug where when tracking a head, and the eye images could not be extracted, gaze angles were being logged as non-zero constant values. The gaze angles are now logged as 0 when this situation occurs. (TT#906) Summary of Improvements Version 3.1.0 ------------------------------------- * Improved head tracking algorithm, providing better robustness to facial deformations. * Eye ball 3D position is now logged for head models with uncalibrated gaze. * An adjustable World Screen Visibility Zone has been added to facilitate screen calibration in the case where the screen is partially obscured. See below for an explanation on how to use this feature. * Eye images in faceLAB's video display window are now resizable. See below for an explanation on how to use this feature. * faceLAB now logs runtime information to time stamped files in the "Run Logs" directory, off the installation directory. * Several minor bugs have been fixed. * Several minor GUI improvements. Summary of Improvements Version 3.0 ------------------------------------ * New automatic creation of front-only head models. * Improved head tracking algorithm, allowing tracking in a greater range of head poses. e.g. Z axis rotations. * Improved image intensity control - more responsive, less overshoot. * faceLAB can now be launched with a variety of command line options, reducing the time needed to get your faceLAB session started. * Real-time and accurate data can now be logged simultaneously to network. * Real-time and accurate display modes have been added. * A new "Snap-to-Gaze" feature has been added for quick fine-tuning of world model construction. * A Head-Pose prediction slider has been added for logging the predicted head pose. * A "Tip of the Day" window now appears when launching faceLAB. * Now supports Windows XP. * Numerous user interface improvements. Converting faceLAB 3.0 and 3.1 Data for use with faceLAB 3.2 ---------------------------------------------------- faceLAB 3.0 and 3.1 configuration files (*.cfg), and world model files (*.w3d) can be converted to work with faceLAB 3.2. Three tools are provided in the faceLAB installation directory: * convertconfigfile.exe: converts a faceLAB 3.0/3.1 configuration file for use with faceLAB 3.2. Please refer to the document "convertconfigfile - README.txt". * convertworldmodel.exe: converts a faceLAB 3.0 world model file for use with faceLAB 3.2. It can also convert 3.2 world model files for use with 3.0. Please refer to the document "convertworldmodel - README.txt". NOTE: faceLAB 3.2 world model files have the same format as 3.1 world model files. Your 3.1 world models will not be updated. * convertfaceLAB30data.exe: this converts all faceLAB 3.0 or 3.1 world model files and configuration files found in the "World Models" and "Config" directories of faceLAB. Please refer to the document "convertfaceLAB30data - README.txt". IMPORTANT: This tool replaces all 3.0 and 3.1 world model and configuration files in the installation directory, so it is recommended you back up these files before use. Face models saved to disk using faceLAB 3.0 cannot be loaded by faceLAB 3.2. To avoid confusion, it is recommended you delete all files and sub-directories within the "Faces" directory (off the 3.2 installation path). Using the Calibration Key to Calibrate the Cameras ------------------------------------------ The Calibration Key allows you to perform camera calibration on your faceLAB machine without having to email your calibration data to Seeing Machines. IMPORTANT; Before using the Calibration Key, you must install the Rockey5 driver from the faceLAB 3.2 CD. Insert the CD, and run the file "Drv_setup.exe" from the "Calibration Key Driver" folder. This will install the drivers necessary to use the Calibration Key. To calibrate using the Calibration Key; 1) Plug the Calibration Key supplied with your faceLAB system into a USB port of the faceLAB machine. 2) Run the calibration wizard to capture calibration data as normal. 3) In the Save Calibration Data page of the wizard, select the "Calibrate using Calibration Key" option and click the Next button. 4) Wait while the Stereo-Head file is being calibrated. WARNING: Do not remove the Calibration Key during the calibration process. NOTE: This step can take several minutes if calibrating more than one setting. 5) Click on Finish button to exit the wizard. 6) The Stereo-Head is now calibrated and ready for use. NOTE: If you do not have a Calibration Key or do not wish to use the Calibration Key, select the "calibrate using server" option from the Save Calibration Data page. This will save a *.cal file which must then be sent to calibration@seeingmachines.com. Logging using the Serial Port ----------------------------- faceLAB data can now be logged using your computer's serial port. This is set up by editing your faceLAB configuration file (*.cfg). The configuration file now contains a section called "Serial Port Realtime Data Logger" for configuring logging of real-time data, and a section "Serial Port Accurate Data Logger" for configuring logging of accurate (latent) data. Follow these steps to use: 1) Open your faceLAB configuration file in Notepad or another text editor. The configuration files are stored in the "Config" subfolder of your faceLAB install folder. If you do not have a custom configuration file, make a copy of "defaults.cfg" for editing. 2) In the section of the configuration file corresponding to the serial port logger you wish to use, change the "Logging Enabled" parameter to "T". Change the "COM Port" parameter to reflect the COM port you wish to log data to (for example "COM2"). 3) Save your configuration file and close the text editor. 4) Launch faceLAB, selecting the modified configuration from the faceLAB Configuration drop down list in the startup dialog. 5) Create a head model and commence tracking. 6) To begin logging to the serial port, you must also enable logging to another destination (either disk or network). If you have no need to log data to another destination, you can simply enable network logging to the localhost. 7) Once the "Start Logging" button is enabled, press it to begin logging data over the serial port. If you get an error message when trying to log to the serial port, check the settings in your configuration file. The most likely cause is that you have specified a non-existent COM port, or one that is already in use. NOTE: faceLAB logs data at a baud rate of 115200 bps. NOTE: You can only log to one serial port (real-time or accurate) at a time. NOTE: If the CPU load reaches 100% whilst logging using the serial port, you may receive CRC errors on the serial port client. NOTE: COM1 is already used by the faceLAB Stereo-Head. The highest available COM port is COM4. Using the Screen Visibility Zone -------------------------------- The Screen Visibility Zone allows screen calibration to proceed with a partially obscured screen. Follow these steps to use: 1) Launch faceLAB 3.1, and load/create a calibrated gaze model. 2) Launch the Screen Intersection Display (from the Options menu in the World Model window) 3) If the subject can see the entire screen, then there is no need to adjust anything. However if the subject cannot see the entire screen, screen calibration may be prevented because the dots displayed during calibration may be obscured. 4) Screen Visibility Zone is adjusted as follows. In the World Model window, select the Screen object. In the right-hand menu, you will see 4 spin boxes, titled Screen Visibility Zone Position (x and y), and Screen Visibility Zone Size (x and y). Note that the position coordinates are specified relative to the centre of the screen. 5) Adjust the size and position spin boxes, and watch the corresponding change in size and position in the Screen Intersection Display. Adjust until the area contained by the yellow box is entirely visible by the subject. Note that the position and size of the Screen Visibility Zone is constrained such that the zone cannot extend beyond the limits of the World Model screen. Also note, if you resize the screen, the Screen Visibility Zone will resize proportionally. 6) Proceed to calibrate the screen (by pressing spacebar in the Screen Intersection Display). The dots that appear on the Screen Intersection Display during calibration will now appear within the Screen Visibility Zone. 7) The Screen Visibility Zone is saved as part of the World Model. Resizable Eye Images --------------------- The eye images within the Video window can now be arbitrarily resized. To enable this feature: 1) In the Video window, select "Resizable Eye Images" from the Display menu. 2) Resize the Video window by selecting and dragging the corner of the window. The eye images will scale proportionally. Terminology Change from faceLAB 1.1 ----------------------------------- Eye opening and closure measurements have been standardized, now referring only to eye closure. This affects the following fields in the log file data format: RIGHT_EYE_OPEN has become RIGHT_EYE_CLOSE LEFT_EYE_OPEN has become LEFT_EYE_CLOSE RIGHT_OPEN_CONF has become RIGHT_CLOS_CONF LEFT_OPEN_CONF has become LEFT_CLOS_CONF EYE_OPEN_CALIB has become EYE_CLOSE_CALIB System Requirements ------------------- faceLAB 3.2 requires: * minimum Pentium 4 2.0 GHz processor * Windows 2000, or Windows XP operating system * screen resolution of 1024x768, using small fonts Known Issues ------------ If you have problems not mentioned below, please report them to support@seeingmachines.com * Some .PNG images will not load successfully as textures. No error message will occur. The texture will not appear on the world-model item. * If you have multiple versions of faceLAB on the same machine and you un-install one of them, you may have to re-install the frame grabber driver registry entries as discussed in the following point. * The installation of some "windows updates" may delete the frame grabber driver registry entries. When this happens faceLAB will produce an error saying it cannot open the PXC library. The workaround: double click on the file "PXC.reg" file in the faceLAB directory to merge it with the registry. This will re-enable the PXC frame grabber registry settings after rebooting. * If you have faceLAB 1.0, faceLAB 1.1, or faceLAB 2.0 installed, and you install faceLAB 3, sometimes the faceLAB 3 icon is not updated (Windows keeps a cached copy of the icons). To ensure that the icon is correct, change the screen depth in Windows (i.e. from 16 bit to 32 bit) and then change it back again. * The pupil tracking quality in the Tracking Setup Wizard (adjust eye tracking parameters) may display low values for some people even though the iris tracking is apparently working well. This is not a bug. The problem is caused by ambiguous results of the vision processing and does not necessarily result in false output data. However, it does indicate that the margin between a correct and a false gaze measurement is small. Try to adjust the Tracking Method and Iris/Pupil settings as best as possible and visually verify that the calculated eye gaze has no drop outs. Most subjects will use the "Dark Iris, No Pupil" tracking option - even though this can produce a lower pupil tracking quality value than the other options. False tracking of reflections can produce high qualities that only serve to reduce the gaze accuracy. Careful observation of the green arcs on the pupil images is a good method to determine the best settings. Contacting Us ------------- General Information: info@seeingmachines.com Technical Support: support@seeingmachines.com Please refer to the faceLAB user manual for other ways to contact us. Reporting faceLAB Issues ------------------------ To report an issue to the Seeing Machines technical support team, send an email to support@seeingmachines.com as follows: 1) Attach the "run log" for your faceLAB session. This can be found in the "Run Logs" directory off your installation path. Note that faceLAB stores a number of run logs in this directory, each time stamped with the time your faceLAB session began. Please ensure you attach the correct file. 2) Describe the issue. 3) Describe the steps taken before the issue occurred. 4) Attach any data files you believe may be relevant. For example, if faceLAB crashed whilst loading a Face Model, attach all files in the directory corresponding to the Face Model. Or if you find a bug in the user interface, attach a screenshot.