These masks look exactly like real faces
It's not quite like Mission Impossible ... but close!

Each week, we spotlight a cool innovation recommended by some of the industry's top tech writers. This week's pick is hyper-realistic masks.
A tiny Japanese firm that makes "super-realistic" face masks is seeing rising demand from the tech industry, said Kwiyeon Ha at Reuters. Created using a process that translates three-dimensional data from photographs, the plastic-and-resin masks "accurately duplicate an individual's face, down to fine wrinkles and skin texture." The maker, REAL-f Co., receives about 100 orders a year for the masks, which run about 300,000 yen, or $2,650.
Clients have included a car company that used the mask of a sleeping face to help its facial recognition technology detect when a driver dozes off, and organizations linked to the Saudi government, which ordered masks to be used in portraits of the royals. Founder Osamu Kitagawa said he'd like to see them used for medical purposes and developing humanoid robots.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?
The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequel
The Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtrip
The Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.