Banuba is a computer vision startup developing augmented reality and 3D facial animation software for mobile devices. The company focuses on face-augmenting reality producing its Face AR software development kit (SDK) to enable AR experiences for the front-facing camera. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong with its R&D center in Minsk, Belarus, offices in Krakow, Poland and Limassol, Cyprus.
By November 2019, Banuba has 32 granted and published patents and 9 filed patents in the fields of computer vision, face detection, face tracking, image processing, avatar generation and design.
History
Banuba was founded in May 2016 as an AI laboratory developing computer vision and augmented reality technologies for mobile devices. In Feb 2017 Banuba secured $5 mln investments from Viktor Prokopenya's VP Capital and The Gutseriev Family's Larnabel Ventures. This investment was spent on the development of its technology portfolio and internal product development.
In March 13, 2017, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited Banuba to discuss with the technological entrepreneurs and investors Viktor Prokopenya and Mikhail Gutseriyev the idea of creating an IT Development Council as part of the Decree on Development of Digital Economy.
In Nov 2018, Banuba received a further $7 million in funding from the same investment units and announced the launch of its new software development kit for third-party companies and brands wanting to use 3D Face AR in their apps.
In July 2019, Banuba was listed among the 10 most valuable startups in Europe specializing in face recognition and tracking according to Silicon Canals.
Technologies
Face tracking detects and tracks the presence of a human face in a digital video frame in real-time. The technology builds a 3D model of the face by recognizing 37 face characteristics represented as morphs for the default face mesh skipping the point of landmark detection.
Face segmentation labels facial regions including the nose, mouth, eyes and hair to allow for facial modifications. These can range from changing the size, shape and color of a face in filters, beautification applications and virtual makeovers.
Face beautification transforms the visual appearance of the user to adjust facial symmetry, smooth skin, correct tone, recolor hair, whiten eyes and teeth, morph face or apply virtual makeup.
Face filtering uses face tracking and 3D rendering graphical technologies such as 3D modelling, animation, physically based rendering (PBR), image-based lighting, animation billboards, facial morphing and other to enable AR experiences for the front-facing camera including facial animation and 3D mask application.
Background subtraction technology uses a convolutional neural network to identify and tag either a human subject or the background of an image to allow for the background subtraction or real-time animation in both full body and selfie mode.
Avatar generation estimates the shape of the face, facial parameters such as eyes, face contour, lips, nose and eyebrows to draw up a 3D model automatically and match it with face mesh to make avatars copy user facial expressions in real-time.
Age, ethnicity estimation system is composed of ageing and/or ethnicity feature extraction and feature classification by the convolutional neural networks.
Gender detection is enabled with a neural network, trained on the annotated dataset to recognize the human gender as male or female.
Emotion recognition estimates facial expression in real-time using morphable face models in conjunction with neural networks to detect happiness, anger, joy, sadness and surprise.
Action Units system is based on the extended morphable three-dimensional face model that includes extended set of morphs and anthropometry coefficients to track facial expressions of the user and animate 3D avatars and emojis.
Heart-rate tracking analyses the fine patterns of the facial areas and their color variations within time in order to detect pulse frequency.
Eye tracking technology combines machine learning with camera projection and statistical algorithms. The ‘random forest’ machine learning strategy, which implements regression combinations in order to achieve better accuracy when predicting the eye-gaze vector and pupil geometry. Camera projection transforms the predicted quantities into a geometrical format (points, arrows) on a mobile device screen.
Hand segmentation and hand tracking algorithms track palm and finger points of the hand skeleton model allowing to estimate hand position and attitude in the real-time.
Product
Banuba’s Face AR SDK enables face filtering, virtual makeup, beautification, avatar generation, virtual try-on and other facial augmented reality features in web and mobile apps. The company provides SDK licencing for brands and uses its Face AR SDK to build mobile consumer apps.
Face AR performance is achieved with precise face detection, face tracking and tailoring the technologies to different lighting conditions, skin colors and low-power devices. The software features advanced 3D rendering technology that allows users to create realistic AR effects in terms of color, texture, shape, and behavior.
Application
Banuba technologies find its application in retail and e-commerce, enabling virtual try-on solutions for makeup, glasses, accessories and headwear. Mobile developers integrate Face AR features in social media apps, dating platforms, video streaming solutions, video editors mobile games and AR advertising campaigns.
Yandex utilized Face AR SDK to enable AR video editor in a fashion app Sloy. An Icelandic startup Teatimes Games develops AR-powered mobile social games with a video chat built with Banuba’s Face AR technology.
Proprietary Mobile Applications
The company uses its Face AR technology to develop proprietary mobile applications with face filters, AR effects and face beautification among which are Banuba Face Filters, My Banuba: Family Face Filters, EasySnap selfie editor, INNER, FunCam Football 2018, VideoMoji.
By November 2019, Banuba has 32 granted and published patents and 9 filed patents in the fields of computer vision, face detection, face tracking, image processing, avatar generation and design.
History
Banuba was founded in May 2016 as an AI laboratory developing computer vision and augmented reality technologies for mobile devices. In Feb 2017 Banuba secured $5 mln investments from Viktor Prokopenya's VP Capital and The Gutseriev Family's Larnabel Ventures. This investment was spent on the development of its technology portfolio and internal product development.
In March 13, 2017, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited Banuba to discuss with the technological entrepreneurs and investors Viktor Prokopenya and Mikhail Gutseriyev the idea of creating an IT Development Council as part of the Decree on Development of Digital Economy.
In Nov 2018, Banuba received a further $7 million in funding from the same investment units and announced the launch of its new software development kit for third-party companies and brands wanting to use 3D Face AR in their apps.
In July 2019, Banuba was listed among the 10 most valuable startups in Europe specializing in face recognition and tracking according to Silicon Canals.
Technologies
Face tracking detects and tracks the presence of a human face in a digital video frame in real-time. The technology builds a 3D model of the face by recognizing 37 face characteristics represented as morphs for the default face mesh skipping the point of landmark detection.
Face segmentation labels facial regions including the nose, mouth, eyes and hair to allow for facial modifications. These can range from changing the size, shape and color of a face in filters, beautification applications and virtual makeovers.
Face beautification transforms the visual appearance of the user to adjust facial symmetry, smooth skin, correct tone, recolor hair, whiten eyes and teeth, morph face or apply virtual makeup.
Face filtering uses face tracking and 3D rendering graphical technologies such as 3D modelling, animation, physically based rendering (PBR), image-based lighting, animation billboards, facial morphing and other to enable AR experiences for the front-facing camera including facial animation and 3D mask application.
Background subtraction technology uses a convolutional neural network to identify and tag either a human subject or the background of an image to allow for the background subtraction or real-time animation in both full body and selfie mode.
Avatar generation estimates the shape of the face, facial parameters such as eyes, face contour, lips, nose and eyebrows to draw up a 3D model automatically and match it with face mesh to make avatars copy user facial expressions in real-time.
Age, ethnicity estimation system is composed of ageing and/or ethnicity feature extraction and feature classification by the convolutional neural networks.
Gender detection is enabled with a neural network, trained on the annotated dataset to recognize the human gender as male or female.
Emotion recognition estimates facial expression in real-time using morphable face models in conjunction with neural networks to detect happiness, anger, joy, sadness and surprise.
Action Units system is based on the extended morphable three-dimensional face model that includes extended set of morphs and anthropometry coefficients to track facial expressions of the user and animate 3D avatars and emojis.
Heart-rate tracking analyses the fine patterns of the facial areas and their color variations within time in order to detect pulse frequency.
Eye tracking technology combines machine learning with camera projection and statistical algorithms. The ‘random forest’ machine learning strategy, which implements regression combinations in order to achieve better accuracy when predicting the eye-gaze vector and pupil geometry. Camera projection transforms the predicted quantities into a geometrical format (points, arrows) on a mobile device screen.
Hand segmentation and hand tracking algorithms track palm and finger points of the hand skeleton model allowing to estimate hand position and attitude in the real-time.
Product
Banuba’s Face AR SDK enables face filtering, virtual makeup, beautification, avatar generation, virtual try-on and other facial augmented reality features in web and mobile apps. The company provides SDK licencing for brands and uses its Face AR SDK to build mobile consumer apps.
Face AR performance is achieved with precise face detection, face tracking and tailoring the technologies to different lighting conditions, skin colors and low-power devices. The software features advanced 3D rendering technology that allows users to create realistic AR effects in terms of color, texture, shape, and behavior.
Application
Banuba technologies find its application in retail and e-commerce, enabling virtual try-on solutions for makeup, glasses, accessories and headwear. Mobile developers integrate Face AR features in social media apps, dating platforms, video streaming solutions, video editors mobile games and AR advertising campaigns.
Yandex utilized Face AR SDK to enable AR video editor in a fashion app Sloy. An Icelandic startup Teatimes Games develops AR-powered mobile social games with a video chat built with Banuba’s Face AR technology.
Proprietary Mobile Applications
The company uses its Face AR technology to develop proprietary mobile applications with face filters, AR effects and face beautification among which are Banuba Face Filters, My Banuba: Family Face Filters, EasySnap selfie editor, INNER, FunCam Football 2018, VideoMoji.
Alvin Smith (born June 16, 1982) is a former American football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He played college football at Oregon State University.
High school years
Smith attended Mays High School in Atlanta, Georgia where he made 212 tackles and 37 sacks.
College career
Smith started his college career at Tulane University before transferring to Oregon State University in 2002. During his college career, he made 55 tackles and five sacks. He majored in liberal studies.
Professional career
Smith was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as an unrestricted rookie free agent on May 8, 2006 but was later waived. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns on November 28.
Coaching career
Smith is currently the Defensive Line coach at Columbia University. He worked as a graduate assistant at Oregon State, Portland State and Arizona State.
High school years
Smith attended Mays High School in Atlanta, Georgia where he made 212 tackles and 37 sacks.
College career
Smith started his college career at Tulane University before transferring to Oregon State University in 2002. During his college career, he made 55 tackles and five sacks. He majored in liberal studies.
Professional career
Smith was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as an unrestricted rookie free agent on May 8, 2006 but was later waived. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns on November 28.
Coaching career
Smith is currently the Defensive Line coach at Columbia University. He worked as a graduate assistant at Oregon State, Portland State and Arizona State.
Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market research, analysis, and intelligence firm with offices in India and the U.S. The company was founded in 2011 and registered as a private limited company in India in 2013. The Company had a virtual sales office in the US and operates from Pune, India
TMR offers solutions spanning customized research, syndicated research reports, and consulting services. TMR had more than 120 employees at the end of March 2016.
TMR was ranked among the ‘Top Five Most Promising Market Research Companies’ in 2014 by business magazine SiliconIndia.
TMR offers solutions spanning customized research, syndicated research reports, and consulting services. TMR had more than 120 employees at the end of March 2016.
TMR was ranked among the ‘Top Five Most Promising Market Research Companies’ in 2014 by business magazine SiliconIndia.
Ryan Matthew Jones (born November 5, 1974) is an American former professional baseball player who spent 14 seasons in minor league baseball and the independent baseball leagues. He hit over 200 professional home runs in his career. Once considered a potential 30 home run hitter at the major league level, he peaked briefly at Triple-A but never reached the big leagues. He had been compared to Mark McGwire.
Early life
Jones was born in Torrance, California and attended Irvine High School in Irvine, California. He was also a football linebacker in high school and turned down scholarships from Oregon State and Fresno State to play baseball. He intended to play baseball at college, but was instead drafted.
Jones played in the 1988 Little League World Series.
Professional baseball
In the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays took him in the second round, 57th overall, one pick ahead of pitcher Jay Witasick. His signing bonus was $150,000. For the Medicine Hat Blue Jays his first season, he hit .246 with three home runs and 27 RBI in 47 games. In 1994, Jones hit .239 with 18 home runs, 29 doubles and 72 RBI in 115 games for the Hagerstown Suns. He led the team in RBI and doubles.
In 1995, he hit .249 with 18 home runs, 28 doubles and 78 RBI in 127 games for the Dunedin Blue Jays. He led the team in home runs. Entering 1996, Baseball America named him the seventh-best prospect in t Blue Jays system, between Roy Halladay and Tom Evans. He hit .271 with a .351 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging mark with 20 home runs and 97 RBI in 134 games for the Knoxville Smokies. He led the team in games played, plate appearances (578), at-bats (506), hits (137), home runs, RBI, total bases (229) and intentional walks (tied with Jeff Patzke, 6).
In 1997, Baseball America named him the #9 prospect in the Blue Jays system, ahead of Evans and behind Joe Young. He split that year between the Smokies and the Triple-A Syracuse SkyChiefs, hitting a combined .224 with 15 home runs and 67 RBI in 127 games. His stay with Syracuse was brief, but he led the team in sacrifice flies. In 1998, he hit .250 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 109 games for Knoxville.
Following the 1998 campaign, Jones left the Blue Jays system and joined the Detroit Tigers organization, with the latter club taking him in the Rule 5 Draft. With the Jacksonville Suns in 1999, he batted .253 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI in 125 games.
His 2000 season was split between the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League and the Akron Aeros in the Cleveland Indians system. He hit .259 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 119 games between them. On August 8, with Winnipeg, he became one of the few players to hit four home runs in one game, doing so against the Sioux Falls Canaries.
He played for the Lancaster JetHawks in the Arizona Diamondbacks system in 2001, leading the team in times hit by pitch and sacrifice flies.
He played for the San Diego Padres Mobile BayBears in 2002, hitting .211 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in 89 games. He led the team in home runs and tied Darren Blakely for the lead in sacrifice flies.
He joined the independent ranks for good in 2003, playing for the Northeast League's Berkshire Black Bears and hitting .257 with 7 home runs and 41 RBI in 81 games. He joined the Atlantic League's Camden Riversharks in 2004 and spent the rest of his career with them. In his first season with the team, he hit .297 with 15 home runs and 85 RBI in 110 games. He led the team in RBI and total bases (197) and tied Stoney Briggs in doubles (26). The next year, he hit .276 with 12 home runs and 74 RBI. In 2006, he hit .224 with 9 home runs and 41 RBI in 114 games. He tied Dwight Maness for the team lead in sacrifice flies (6).
In 1,514 games over 14 seasons, Jones hit .253 with 204 home runs and 921 RBI.
Personal life
Jones is now a high school baseball coach.
Early life
Jones was born in Torrance, California and attended Irvine High School in Irvine, California. He was also a football linebacker in high school and turned down scholarships from Oregon State and Fresno State to play baseball. He intended to play baseball at college, but was instead drafted.
Jones played in the 1988 Little League World Series.
Professional baseball
In the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays took him in the second round, 57th overall, one pick ahead of pitcher Jay Witasick. His signing bonus was $150,000. For the Medicine Hat Blue Jays his first season, he hit .246 with three home runs and 27 RBI in 47 games. In 1994, Jones hit .239 with 18 home runs, 29 doubles and 72 RBI in 115 games for the Hagerstown Suns. He led the team in RBI and doubles.
In 1995, he hit .249 with 18 home runs, 28 doubles and 78 RBI in 127 games for the Dunedin Blue Jays. He led the team in home runs. Entering 1996, Baseball America named him the seventh-best prospect in t Blue Jays system, between Roy Halladay and Tom Evans. He hit .271 with a .351 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging mark with 20 home runs and 97 RBI in 134 games for the Knoxville Smokies. He led the team in games played, plate appearances (578), at-bats (506), hits (137), home runs, RBI, total bases (229) and intentional walks (tied with Jeff Patzke, 6).
In 1997, Baseball America named him the #9 prospect in the Blue Jays system, ahead of Evans and behind Joe Young. He split that year between the Smokies and the Triple-A Syracuse SkyChiefs, hitting a combined .224 with 15 home runs and 67 RBI in 127 games. His stay with Syracuse was brief, but he led the team in sacrifice flies. In 1998, he hit .250 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 109 games for Knoxville.
Following the 1998 campaign, Jones left the Blue Jays system and joined the Detroit Tigers organization, with the latter club taking him in the Rule 5 Draft. With the Jacksonville Suns in 1999, he batted .253 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI in 125 games.
His 2000 season was split between the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League and the Akron Aeros in the Cleveland Indians system. He hit .259 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 119 games between them. On August 8, with Winnipeg, he became one of the few players to hit four home runs in one game, doing so against the Sioux Falls Canaries.
He played for the Lancaster JetHawks in the Arizona Diamondbacks system in 2001, leading the team in times hit by pitch and sacrifice flies.
He played for the San Diego Padres Mobile BayBears in 2002, hitting .211 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in 89 games. He led the team in home runs and tied Darren Blakely for the lead in sacrifice flies.
He joined the independent ranks for good in 2003, playing for the Northeast League's Berkshire Black Bears and hitting .257 with 7 home runs and 41 RBI in 81 games. He joined the Atlantic League's Camden Riversharks in 2004 and spent the rest of his career with them. In his first season with the team, he hit .297 with 15 home runs and 85 RBI in 110 games. He led the team in RBI and total bases (197) and tied Stoney Briggs in doubles (26). The next year, he hit .276 with 12 home runs and 74 RBI. In 2006, he hit .224 with 9 home runs and 41 RBI in 114 games. He tied Dwight Maness for the team lead in sacrifice flies (6).
In 1,514 games over 14 seasons, Jones hit .253 with 204 home runs and 921 RBI.
Personal life
Jones is now a high school baseball coach.