Scientists Invent App That Helps You Take Better Selfies

I’m a firm believer that if you’re going to do something, you should do it well. I try to apply this attitude to all aspects of life, but it’s easy to forget this commitment to excellence when you’re performing a small, menial task. Most people take selfies without really giving the process any thought, but a team of computer scientists at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada think you should give the process some thought, and they’ve developed an application to help you do just that.

The Waterloo scientists bought 3D digital scans of “average” looking people (their words, not mine!) and, through writing code, took hundreds of virtual selfies, altering angle, lighting, and face size. They then used a crowdsourcing service to garner thousands of votes on the best selfies. The data they gathered was used to create an algorithm that teaches people how to take better selfies. According to online ratings, the algorithm-powered app resulted in a 26% improvement when compared to photos taken with a standard camera app.

The team behind the app is already excited about taking it further, possibly expanding the app to include variables such as hairstyle, smile type, and even outfit. That last variable brings to mind the Echo Look, Amazon’s new hands-free camera that acts as a style assistant by telling you what to wear and what not to wear. One thing I didn’t expect out of the robot apocalypse is fashion tips.

This app, which is not yet available to the public, seems like a win for everyone. People who like to take selfies can now up their game, and people who don’t like to look at selfies will at least now be subjected to better quality selfies. Photography is an art, you grumps. Let people shine.