How to increase posed expression quality: Posed expression capture systems are becoming more and more popular. Though they have been around in the art/entertainment industry for quite some time, in recent years, they have also gained traction in the tech industry. Regardless of industry, there are universal challenges in acquiring desired poses. To help achieve higher quality data for machine learning in tech and to promote more accurate reference poses in art/entertainment, below is a guide with common mistakes to avoid in order to get the most out of your data participant, actor, or model.

NOTE: There is a lot to cover on this topic. This is a truncated version with only upper face expressions. I’m available for consultation (facetheFACS@melindaozel.com) if you would like the same information for the lower face and/or combination expressions.

Best Practices for Capturing Posed Expressions in Technology

Mistakes to Avoid in Hiring and Planning

HIRING

Choosing your collection team will greatly impact the quality of your project. In tech, common mistakes made when hiring data acquisitionists include:

DON’T Hire Over-qualified Individuals to Collect Your Data  

• Data capture can be tedious and repetitive. While expertise is important in the data strategy phase, it is not necessary in the data acquisition phase. Hiring over-qualified individuals to collect data will increase the likelihood of your employees growing tired from under-stimulating tasks and career stagnancy. Boredom and stagnancy will reduce incentive for individuals to remain on your team – unless you have a clear path for advancement. Hiring individuals with less experience will increase chances of retaining members of your team. It will also provide career growth opportunities for inexperienced employees rather than perpetuating stifling contractor-based structures.
• One of the worst things you can have in a data capture project is a high turnover rate. You want your team to know the ins and outs of your house-style collection process. A well-informed team that understands the struggles and hacks of your system will yield more accurate data and reduce time spent troubleshooting.

 DON’T Value Experience Over People Skills 

• Getting your participant to feel comfortable is half the battle. People are less expressive in novel and unnatural settings. Data capture environments are inherently unnatural; so you will want to make up for the uncomfortable environment with an intuitive and personable staff. Hiring data acquisitionists with backgrounds in customer service or with strong emotional intelligence will take you a lot further than hiring individuals with technical experience.

PLANNING

The expression data you choose to capture will vary depending on use case and resource availability. Common mistakes in planning include:

 Avoid Deficient Guides and Inaccurate Visuals 

• Due to lack of knowledge in expression nuances, most posing guides have either incorrect descriptions or inaccurate visual examples. To reduce this problem, it is crucial to consult with experts or dedicate time/training materials (like the Facial Action Coding System Manual) to designated members of your team.

Avoid Redundant or Irrelevant Poses