A student sits in a raised chair as a large machine rotates around his body. A small red laser scans his entire head. Next, a high-resolution digital camera is used to take 10 pictures of his head at various angles. When the process is complete, he leaves with $15 in his pocket.

More than 40 students, faculty members and community members have volunteered to take part in this type of research being conducted at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. The research involves creating a large database of human faces.

"Right now the only available 3-D database of faces is in Germany," said Dr. Jesse Spencer-Smith, a Beckman fellow and principal investigator of the research. "They have a total of 300 faces and all but two of them are white."

Spencer-Smith said a similar system in Germany, which does not contain a wide range of facial skin tones and features, will inevitably contain errors in its applications. He hopes to create a multiracial database that will represent an accurate cross-section of the general population. The diversity of the campus community makes that task much easier, Spencer-Smith said.

The research will provide experiment data for future research related to 3-D face imaging, said Zhenqiu Zhang, graduate student and one of Spencer-Smith's assistants.

Its information can be used in a variety of areas, including access control, credit card security, anthropology and even psychology. With the help of this research, computers will be able to recognize users as soon as they sit down in front of the screen. It might also assist police investigators in the search for missing children by constructing accurate facial images of the child years later. Doctors will be be able to use this technology in facial reconstruction surgery. The possibilities are endless, Spencer-Smith said.

The project began in 2001 and people ranging in age from 18 to 80 have participated so far. The opportunity to participate is open to all legal adults. Even Spencer-Smith's mother-in-law has had her face scanned.

Several new technologies are being used in the research. One device, called the Shapecam, is a product of EyeTronics. This company specializes in 3-D scanning technology. Spencer-Smith and his research team have an agreement with EyeTronics to openly exchange any new ideas and developments.

"We take their technology and adapt it to our needs while improving it," Spencer-Smith said.

The ShapeCam has been used in Hollywood film and television to create special effects. Anyone who has ever seen the movie Spiderman has seen the work of the ShapeCam. The device captures the geometry and texture of an object using two flashes. The first flash is a high-definition digital photo that captures the object's texture. The second flash projects a grid onto the object that is used during later digital processing of the photo. Another program of Eyetronics, called the ShapeSnatcher, is then used to "stitch" all 10 photos together by transferring the 2-D photos into a complete 3-D model.

Colin Breen, a senior in LAS, also assists Spencer-Smith in his research. After his sister told him about it, Breen decided to become involved with the project. Breen said this work has taught him more about 3-D technology and its uses. It has also given him the opportunity to work with the latest equipment available at the Beckman Institute, he said.

The project has enough funding to accumulate up to 400 faces but Spencer-Smith is hoping for a grant that will allow them to collect more than 8,000. He said that more faces will mean more accuracy and more capabilities for further applications. On average, 3 faces are scanned per day.

MORE BOX: Anyone interested in participating can contact Dr. Spencer-Smith at jbspence@uiuc.edu or call him at (217) 265-5493. The entire procedure usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes and pays $15.