Object detection

[0042] The embodiments will be described with respect to face detection, but are equally applicable to a detection of other objects such as cars, by training with training images representing the required objects.

[0043]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a general purpose computer system for use as a face detection system and / or a non-linear editing system. The computer system comprises a processing unit 10 having (amongst other conventional components) a central processing unit (CPU) 20, memory such as a random access memory (RAM) 30 and non-volatile storage such as a disc drive 40. The computer system may be connected to a network 50 such as a local area network or the Internet (or both). A keyboard 60, mouse or other user input device 70 and display screen 80 are also provided. The skilled man will appreciate that a general purpose computer system may include many other conventional parts which need not be described here.

[0044]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a video camera-recorde