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  • Software detects food on photos and compiles individualized diet diaries

    Serkan Toto

    Dr. Serkan Toto is an independent consultant and advisor focusing on Japan’s web, mobile and social gaming industries. Based in Tokyo, he works together with financial institutions and startups worldwide. Serkan has been the Japan contributor for TechCrunch.com since 2008. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. → Learn More

    Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

    According to yesterday’s print edition of the Nikkei, Japan’s largest business newspaper, researchers from Tokyo University developed proprietary software that can detect and quantify different kinds of food captured on photographs.

    The software analyzes colors and shapes to identify which type of food a person plans to eat. It’s also able to determine the size of bowls and plates to detect how much is going to be eaten. The software then classifies the food into different categories such as staple food, fruits, dairy products etc. For future reference, all of the data collected can be stored in the form of a daily diary .

    The Nikkei says programming is near completion, with the researchers involved in the development stating the software’s error rate currently ranges between 10 and 20%.

    The researchers aim at setting up a dedicated web site for their product by the end of this year. The service will most likely be offered for free.

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