Three ways to record facial expressions for emotion AI research
A technical guide with hardware and software tips for recording facial expressions
Do you need to record facial expressions for your research? If yes, this post will guide you through the three main options for recording facial expression videos (see here to check if you need facial expressions for your research).
There are 3 major options for recording facial expression videos:
- Webcams
- Tripod mounted cameras
- Head mounted cameras
Let’s discuss each option to determine if it’s the right setup for you. Here are some criteria we’ll use to evaluate each method: ease of use, recording quality, cost, and flexibility of the setup.
Webcams: Quick, cheap, but messy.
For most researchers, webcams will probably be the quickest and cheapest way to start recording facial expressions. Nowadays, most studies are conducted on laptops that come with built-in webcams with good image quality (720p+). Webcams can also be easily added to desktops with external USB webcams that are affordable for less than $100.
