₦airaland Forum

kudos bros...u used ur talent in d right way...unlike ipod graduate dt ar busy robbing bankz and goin into yahoo and drugs smuggling

funny how no one remembers he is an 'abok!'

dreamwords:

I will only believe you if you find chibok girls

You see why it doesn't work here, because we think it can't be done, but out there, even when it is not going according to plan, you are encouraged to try harder..

This is what makes people rich in technology age.

Splendid!

and some e-diots will say d north is only filled with 'uneducated' almajiri
pls is this great man a yanmirin?

KevinDein:
This news won't be received well by nairaland resident bigots.

Just a sad day for some

You are the only bigot here . . . What he has done is application of an existing computer algorithm to execute an existing solution. He didn't invent the art of aged face construction. I have seen these things in crime detective series on filmrise's youtube channel.

ajuji1:
An Interview With Dr Maina: A Nigerian Scientist Who Developed An Algorithm For Finding Missing People

Last year, news was all over the UK about a new algorithm which could help in finding missing people, developed by scientists at the University of Bradford in England. The development was reported by the CNN, BBC, Telegraph, among others. We caught up with the scientist, Dr Ali Bukar Maina, a Nigerian, whose PhD work under Professor Hassan Ugail, led to the exciting innovation. Ali was kind enough to share the following information with us.



Tell us about yourself and schools attended

My name is Ali Bukar Maina, from Nguru, Yobe State. I attended Girgiri Primary School Nguru, then Suleja Academy, Niger State (now Federal Government Academy, Suleja) between 1992 and 1998, then did my bachelor's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Thereafter, I did a Diploma in Computing at Jigawa State Institute of Information Technology, an MSc in Software Engineering at the University Aberdeen, Scotland before joining the University of Bradford for a PhD.



What is your area of research?

Computer vision and machine learning



Last year, your story was on CNN and BBC on a facial age progression algorithm you developed, can you tell us about it?

The algorithm was part of my PhD which entails teaching the computer to generate facial images of people at different ages. In simple terms, you feed in a picture, let’s say of a 30-year-old person, then the algorithm process it and generates an image of the person at any finite age(e.g. age 50). Alternatively, the algorithm can synthesise that image to a younger age (for instance back to how the person looked at age 20. This has several real-world applications such as the search for missing people. Indeed, the news on BBC and other news media reported our findings with regards to the image processing of Ben Needham, a British toddler who went missing over 20 years ago, till date he has not been found. Our algorithm generated some images of how he may look after all the years he was missing, which would thus make the search efforts easier.



Is this algorithm open source?

No, the algorithm is not open source. We hope to get a patent for it shortly.



Has this work been published in a scientific journal?

Yes, it has been published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.



Ali M. Bukar, Hassan Ugail. Facial Age Synthesis Using Sparse Partial Least Squares (The Case of Ben Needham). Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2017; DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13523



Other improvements to the initial work have further being published as book chapters and conference articles.



What do you think are the other applications of this algorithm?

In addition to finding missing people, the algorithm can be used in the search for fugitives. For instance, in the next 10 or more years, most of the wanted criminals that couldn’t be caught will have changed in appearance. The algorithm could track their age progression and generate pictures that could identify them, which could lead to identification and arrests.



Can this type of research be done in Nigeria?

Computer vision and machine learning can be done in Nigeria. What is required is dedication, in-depth understanding of mathematics and programming. Furthermore, to teach (train) the algorithm, one needs a large database of labelled pictures and a powerful computer that would be able to do the training. These are things attainable in Nigeria.



How do you feel developing such a useful tool?

It gave me a sense of accomplishment seeing how mathematical equations that many people could not understand generated images of a person that people could be recognised.



Can you remember how you developed an interest in science?

I developed an interest in science when I was little, thanks to my dad, who has always been my motivator and mentor. He had a book called “Simple Science Experiments” which we used to study along with my siblings and try the experiments. That gave me a strong passion for science and motivated me to pursue it as a career.



Who is your science hero?

Geoffrey Hinton is a scientist I have high respect for. He is one of the most famous researchers in the field of Artificial Intelligence. His work helped kick off the world of deep learning (neural networks). He persisted in what he loved for decades when the whole world thought artificial neural networks made no sense. Today, all the tech giants, like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and their likes are using deep learning to achieve wonders.



What is your advice to young students and junior colleagues?

Hard work, dedication and perseverance are some of the ingredients for success. Rather than studying what will get you a job, pursue the subject you love



Further story on Dr Maina’s work can be found via:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/uk-aging-algorithm-missing-person/amp/

cc remedick

Oohh.. You developed it at the right time..
Oya,, Nigeria Needs it most

This is an algorithm that will teach a computer to be better at performing an age progression for as far back as 3 decades ago to the present time.
Most of the methods available are affected by image noise, illumination variations, and most importantly facial expressions. While theirs (A.M Bukar and H.Ugail) has an age progression framework that utilizes image de-noising and expression normalizing capabilities of kernel principal component analysis (Kernel PCA). This algorithm will allow a capture of the shape and texture variations of the human face. The extracted facial features are then used to perform age progression via a regression procedure.

FarahAideed:
100s of Such age progression software have been available for year and have even been already used in some crimes so I don't get where this is coming from... Intact there are many amateur version of them in the the android store .. I doubt if this guy is claiming credit for this .

If Na from the east now they no go let us hear words again

Lol, Not possible

Desyner:
You are the only bigot here . . . What he has done is application of an existing computer algorithm to execute an existing solution. He didn't invent the art of aged face construction. I have seen these things in crime detective series on filmrise's youtube channel.

...the thing dey pain you and i can see it...some if I make drone or computer now, u go open ur mouth say I did wetin white man don do...he did smth good... And it can be improved upon and can be made to suit our society.....why d hate

you are indeed the son of the soil....9ja is in serious trouble of missing school girls and there is urgent need to locate or find them...

so, your work or discovery was timely...to help our confused security oufit

Rainmania:
This is an algorithm that will teach a computer to be better at performing an age progression for as far back as 3 decades ago to the present time.
Most of the methods available are affected by image noise, illumination variations, and most importantly facial expressions. While theirs (A.M Bukar and H.Ugail) has an age progression framework that utilizes image de-noising and expression normalizing capabilities of kernel principal component analysis (Kernel PCA). This algorithm will allow a capture of the shape and texture variations of the human face. The extracted facial features are then used to perform age progression via a regression procedure.

Ohh I see ..now this makes sense

mvem:
...the thing dey pain you and i can see it...some if I make drone or computer now, u go open ur mouth say I did wetin white man don do...he did smth good... And it can be improved upon and can be made to suit our society.....why d hate

Do it but don't exargerate it. I am into ML programming too and no need for exargerations.

Nigerians are so cynical wether he invented it or he developed the invention he's done something positive to put his name and country on the map stop hating and appreciate excellence

femolacqua:
When we have leaders who only think of themselves and they see good things to emulate from other country, but wouldn't do which is right. That is why we will keep on loosing people with talents to other country, because the country itself is not favourable. Look around you see Nigerians breaking grounds in foreign country, which ordinarily if they were here they won't have achieve such a feat.

I can relate to all you have said. We'll keep loosing good ones to white supremacy. Quite unfortunate.

Good one there. Let's learn how to appreciate people. You that claimed he's achieved nothing, why haven't we heard or read about you here? Hatred is not good.

BruncleZuma:
Nice one....but OP he advised you to "read heard" and you gree.

Wawuu

I agree bro but I am yet to develop an algorithm

ajuji1:
I agree bro but I am yet to develop an algorithm

If you are leet on python it's a small challenge...

emekaCEO:
Incredible

Yes bro, the government need to support this type of innovation

BruncleZuma:
If you are leet on python it's a small challenge...

Alright! I have never study python, but I will start soon

ajuji1:
Alright! I have never study python, but I will start soon

Add node.js to it as well and you're on the right path

Wonderful. My alma mata Suleja academy always representing.

ajuji1:
Alright! I have never study python, but I will start soon

But do you have an idea what python is?

ajuji1:
This is the face of the great scientist. Nigeria is blessed. Please where do we got it wrong

From ur English

Please, point of correction... He is not a "scientist" but an ENGINEER.... Thanks

Well done Bro...

taurusdude0:
From ur English

I am sure is not from my English.
China, India etc are not English speaking country remember