Facebook working on a home assistant codenamed Project Aloha; it can recognise faces

Social networking giant Facebook is reportedly working towards rolling out a video chat device that can recognise users’ faces. The proposed device is said to be similar to the Amazon Echo Show, and will feature a camera, touchscreen and speakers, The Independent reported on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_3922241” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters.[/caption] But the device has also raised fears among consumers that it could be used by the social network to spy on them, thereby casting doubt on whether the device would have all the features as intended when it is finally launched. Codenamed Project Aloha, the device is set to be released by Facebook in May 2018. However, it may hit the market under a new brand name, the report said. The device is likely to be marketed as a tool to help old people communicate with their families and friends. Months after its global launch in March, Facebook ‘Stories’ that you could only share with friends have now been unlocked for the public. In another update Facebook’s newest update for its Messenger app is going to roll out with a new video chat feature which includes live filters, saving screenshots directly and animated reactions. With animated reactions, the five emoji reactions on Facebook — the smiling face, a surprised face, an angry face, a crying face and a heart — will be overlayed on the user’s face. This means that if you have chosen the crying emoji , then tears will start falling from your eyes while the heart creates a halo of exploding hearts around your head.