Chinese school uses facial recognition to observe inattentive students

China has taken a new approach to survey students in classroom and check if they are paying attention or not, through facial recognition technology or ‘smart eye’.

Hangzhou Number 11 High School in east China installed a ‘smart eye’ in its classrooms as a part of its ‘Smart Classroom Behavior Management System’ that makes use of facial recognition technology to keep an eye on students, according to Chinese website Hangzhou.com

Three cameras have been installed above blackboards that can recognize seven different facial expressions, happy, sad, scared, neutral, surprised, disappointed and angry. The technology will let the teacher know if the children are focused or not, and if not, the feedback will be given to the teacher by the computer, as per Engadget.

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The technology has been criticized by students mostly as one student told the Chinese website, “Previously when I had classes that I didn’t like very much, I would be lazy and maybe take a nap on the desk or flick through other textbooks. But I don’t dare be distracted since the cameras were installed in the classrooms. It’s like a pair of mystery eyes are constantly watching me.”

However, Principal Ni Ziyuan believes that this system will enhance educational standards. “It is the same as teachers having an assistant, and it can improve the quality of teaching. Some have said it can infringe the privacy of students, but it only records students’ movements, rather than filming activities in class.”

He further said, “And those who focus on lectures will be marked with an A, while students who let their minds wander will be marked with a B.”

Described as ‘teaching assistant’, apart from providing teachers with real-time information on students, it also calculates attendance levels by using database of pupils’ faces and names to check who is in the classroom, along with keeping an eye on the teachers as well, reported South China Morning Post.

“This kind of system is supervising both the students’ learning, and the teachers’ teaching,” said deputy principal, Zhang Guanchao.

The reports claim that the technology is providing the desired effects. For now, the technology has been installed in just one classroom with plans to install it across the entire school by this summer.