These glasses thwart facial recognition software

Two researchers in Japan have designed what just may be the world's ugliest pair of glasses to prevent facial recognition software from accurately identifying the wearer.

The glasses were created by an associate professor at Tokyo's national Institute of Informatics named Isao Echizen, in conjunction with Seiichi Gohshi, a professor at Kogakuin University.

The glasses feature an integrated series of circular lights inside that emit near infrared light, which is invisible to our eyes. Essentially, the infrared light distorts the features of the wearer when viewed by cameras. The glasses draw power to operate from a battery that the user keeps in the pocket. Echizen said, "We are developing an improved version of the privacy visor without power supply consisting of transparent materials that reflect or absorb specific wavelengths." The researchers believe the finished products will likely cost around $1 per unit.