Abstract
The fields of psychology and engineering have amassed an extensive body of research concerning facial expression recognition. A great deal of this research employs a Facial Action Cording System (FACS) that facilitates facial expression recognition by tracking facial muscle movement. This approach requires a considerable amount of analysis to interpret facial muscle movement. We have attempted facial expression recognition by means of a simplified approach involving analysis of the sequential stages of a blink with respect to the resultant retinal outline. A subject presented a facial expression and the resultant sequential retinal outlines over the course of a blink were analyzed and stored in a database. This was done for seven different emotional expressions. When the same subject presented subsequent expressions for analysis the correct facial expression was identified at a high frequency by means of pattern matching with previously stored data. The fine musculature around the eye is recruited during facial expression formation and impacts the conformation of the eye lid over the course of a blink which in turn impacts the observable retinal outline. While our system is currently employed to recognize facial expressions of previously learned individuals there is a clear potential for further development.
