At the end of last year, we released Oxygen Forensic® Detective v.13.2, an update that introduced critical enhancements to some of our most utilized features – Facial Categorization and Image Categorization.
Oxygen Forensic Detective 13.3 takes these advancements a step further. Let’s see how…
A need for Advancement
In July, a poll by National Geographic and Morning Consult found that 60% of Americans always wear masks when leaving the house. The same poll was conducted three months later and found a 14% increase in the number of Americans who always wear masks. Whether rooted in stricter mask enforcement or shifting attitudes, this data demonstrates a clear trend that is not only apparent in the US but around the world.
For tools like Image Categorization, the need for advancement is continuous. As members of the digital forensics community, we pay close attention to the evolving needs of investigators. We know the types of roadblocks that are often encountered in investigations, and we aim to improve our product in accordance with those obstacles.
Our Solution
Facial Categorization
Considering the strong majority of people around the world wearing face coverings, we found it necessary to enhance our Facial Categorization engine. The Facial Categorization built into Oxygen Forensic® Detective v.13.3 has the ability to identify faces wearing glasses, hats, and most important today, masks.
As is shown in the left panel of the screenshot above, investigators can easily adjust the filter settings by checking the designated boxes under “Accessories”. Users also have the option to filter Facial Categorization by Age, Gender, and Race.
Additionally, investigators will be able to perform facial searches for specific faces using unique uploaded images. To do this, enter the Search section, go into the Face Sets tab, and click Add Images to upload source images to the Facial Sets Manager.
Results will appear as shown above. On the left will be the facial matches for the conducted search, on the right will be the reference image. Details are displayed on the right side, including percent similarity, age, sex, race, emotion, and more. Investigators can rename the face, delete it, or move it to another set.
Image Categorization
Our Image Categorization tool is useful for investigators parsing through large catalogs of images and screenshots. Oxygen Forensic® Detective v.13.3 expands the number of supported categories and grants investigators the ability to locate and sort images containing maps, as well as QR and barcodes.
Currently, our Image Categorization engine supports 16 categories:
- Alcohol
- Cars
- Chats
- Child Abuse
- Currency
- Documents
- Drugs
- Extremism
- Gambling
- Graphic Violence
- ID/Credit Card
- Nudity
- Vehicles
- Weapons
- Maps
- QR/Barcodes
The Maps category is used for neural network identification of images containing various types of maps. Oxygen Forensic® Detective v.13.3 will automatically tag and categorize images of Google maps, topological maps, navigation maps, and satellite photos.
When it comes to QR and Barcodes, our software will once again utilize neural network identification to automatically locate, tag, and categorize images containing QR and barcodes.
Key Benefits
We trust that the enhancement of these tools will aid our users in their investigative work. For Facial Categorization, the benefits lie in timesaving. Oxygen Forensic Detective v.13.3 gives investigators the ability to analyze more focused and organized datasets. Our enhanced Facial Categorization engine automatically locates and sorts faces by the corresponding filter. With the option to narrow searches by age, race, and now accessories, we trust our users will conduct more effective searches than ever.
Our Image Categorization has been popular amongst investigators since its inception. The benefits of this tool become evident with one use. Within seconds, our software categorizes the entirety of a device’s images and screenshots. Currently supporting 16 categories, this powerful feature is essential to any investigation.
To try this tool, or any of our other tools included in Oxygen Forensic® Detective v.13.3, request a free demo.