The Electronic Facial Identification Technique, commonly known as E-FIT, is a computerised method of synthesizing images of the faces of criminals from witness descriptions.
The term itself was proposed by Janina Kaminska at the UK Home Office in 1984. Interestingly it falls on the leading edge of or predates the general use of "e" for electronic and retains the "E-" it started with to this date. In comparison the far more recent eFIT is a fitness plan on the internet.
Customers for this system exist around the world including ATF, NYPD, FBI, The Swedish Police, the RCMP and Scotland Yard.
The system is used both in every day cases and high profile events. In the UK it is an ever present feature on the BBC's Crimewatch television program - a British equivalent to America's Most Wanted. It was actively used in a case where one of the Crimewatch presenters themselves became a victim of a stalker and murder. The system is available in Spanish, German, English(US&UK), French, Italian, Portuguese and Swedish.
External links
Further information, including some rolling GIF images of the system's output, can be found at the following locations:
