Observing Human Motion Using Far-Infrared (FLIR) Camera -- Some Preliminary Studies

Far infrared imaging technology is becoming an interesting choice for many civilian uses. We explored the potential of using far infrared camera for human motion analysis, especially from the viewpoint of possible automated image and video analysis. In this article, we present the main characteristics of far infrared imagery that should be of interest to computer vision researchers and seek to eliminate some common misunderstandings about the far infrared imagery which may influence the choice of far infrared technology over other alternatives. We provide images that illustrate the problems and advances of using the far infrared imaging technology, especially for the purpose of observing humans.