Screening for Objectionable Images: A Review of Skin Detection Techniques

In recent times advances in data communication technologies, in particular high speed Internet connections and 3G mobile phones, have introduced major concern about the relative ease of access to unsuitable material. This academic and commercial problem of real time detection of unsuitable images communicated by phone and Internet has grown steadily over the last number of years. This review paper is presented in three parts. The first part compares and contrasts the most significant skin detection techniques, feature extraction techniques and classification methods. The second gives an analysis of the significant test results. This review paper examines thirty-three of the most recent techniques along with their specific conditions. Finally, this paper concludes by identifying future challenges and briefly summarizes the proposed features of an optimal system for future implementation with a suggested solution to the affects of lighting variations on the colour of skin pixels.