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HP investigating racist webcam claims
by Jaspreet Virk - December 23, 2009 - comments
Though both Wanda and Desi in the video grab are shown to be amused by the problem, the video has garnered so much attention that HP has responded to the problem
New York, December 23 -- Hewlett-Packard is under attack. A video posted on YouTube titled ‘HP computers are racist’, which has been widely viewed over the past week, has raised a question? can HP’s Media Smart webcam's Face Tracking software track black people?
According to the video posted by two friends, webcams of HP computers does not recognize the movement of black people.
To demonstrate this, both friends 'Desi’, a Black man, and ‘Wanda’, a White, appear in front of the webcam. The camera follows Wanda as she moves about but stays still as Desi moves around the room.
“I’m going on the record and I’m saying it. Hewlett-Packard computers are racist,” claims Desi.
HP responds to claims
It apparently appears that the camera has a problem in tracking people with dark complexion.
Though both Wanda and Desi are shown to be amused by the problem, the video has garnered so much attention that HP has responded to the problem.
In a blog, the company stated, “We are working with our partners to learn more. The technology we use is built on standard algorithms that measure the difference in intensity of contrast between the eyes and the upper cheek and nose. We believe that the camera might have difficulty “seeing” contrast in conditions where there is insufficient foreground lighting.”
Viewers’ take
The video has attracted more than 710,000 views as of writing this news. It has also stirred a number of viewers, who have taken to blogs and forums to post their reactions.
There are viewers who have criticized HP, but majority of them have called the clip humorous and rubbished the claims of racism.
A reader named ameen2598qureshi commented on youtube.com, “This is faked. Look at the name tag - it is the wrong way round, and the KIPOR sign. Its also the wrong way around. They have modified this computer or done some to cause it to do what it is doing. My HP laptop follows me perfectly and im black.”
Another reader named BDiegoTube stated on the same site, “Obviously HP webcams aren't racist as they don't have any concept of race. Their flaw comes from inability to track people of darker skin tones - which is most definitely not exclusive to Africans.
“This is as childish as saying that the sun is racist because black people have higher rates of skin cancer due to insufficient ultraviolet exposure (a medical fact). Please.”