Are HP Webcams Racist?
Posted: Thursday, December 24, 2009
by Asher Ricard
Hewlett Packard is coming under fire by way of a YouTube video for its webcams being racist.
A video entitled. "HP Computers Are Racist" has over one million hits on YouTube. The video is posted twice. Of course, the "white Wanda" video has the more then a million hits.
The video in a joking way demonstrates the HP webcam and its inability to track a black face. It further shows that it has no problem following and tracking a while person's face.
I feel bad for those who experience this issue. But honestly, cameras have had these issues for years especially depending on the lighting. Honestly speaking as a photographer, photographing African-Americans is a challenge especially when you add in motion or lighting factors. The equipment and technology is just not there, but is being worked on.
The BBC is reporting, "HP has been informed of a potential issue with the facial-tracking software included on some of its systems, which appears to occur when insufficient foreground lighting is available," an HP spokesman told BBC News.
"We take this seriously and are looking into it with our partners."
What more can you ask for? Of course through the comments of this video, it is becoming a black versus white argument and I just do not think this is the issue.
I think it is the same issue cameras have battled for years. HP shouldn’t take the fall for this. Instead if it is a concern, maybe those purchasing computers should buy a mac!
This Article has been viewed 303 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)That's odd. Glad the guy's got a sense of humor about it.
I don't know anything about photography, but it does seem to be a technological problem. I really like the guys sense of humour, though. I'm all for your comment about buying a Mac. I love my Mac. Now, I don't know if it has the same issues as the HP computer, but I'd recommend everyone to get a Mac anyway.
WOW, I would have never imagined 'machines' being racist. Thanks for sharing this article, Asher.
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