Despite the progress made and the clever workarounds devised, significant obstacles remain. The researchers noted that their current results were obtained in a laboratory setup, which involved zooming in on a person’s face, illuminating the scene with area lights, and controlling the person’s movements. They acknowledged the challenges of achieving similar results in more unconstrained settings, such as video conferencing with natural head movements, due to factors like lower sensor resolution, dynamic range, and motion blur. Furthermore, the team recognized the need to develop less simplistic assumptions about iris texture, as real-world scenarios involve wider rotation of the eyes compared to the controlled environment of their study.
Nonetheless, the researchers view their progress as a milestone that can pave the way for future breakthroughs. They hope to inspire further exploration of unexpected visual signals that can unveil information about the world around us, expanding the horizons of 3D scene reconstruction. While more advanced versions of this technology may raise concerns about privacy intrusion, it is important to note that the current iteration can only vaguely discern details, such as a Kirby doll, even under the most favorable conditions.
