It's difficult to smoke these days. So many rules and regulations to stop people killing themselves slowly puffing on tobacco but this one got me. To support legislation banning the sale of cigs to under 20-year olds in Japan, an age detection tool is being developed for use on vending machines. It's sort of face recognition software but programed to determine your age from facial characteristics based on a sample of 100,000 people.

Apparently, the software will determine by looking at your face how old you are. If you LOOK older than 20-years, you will be allowed to purchase your smokes, if not, you will have to produce an ID card for scanning to prove your age.

I wonder if they programed this using smoker's faces? Smokers end to age a it more than non-smokers I guess.

But is this the start of a new trend? Will we have face recognition software suddenly appearing in bars, topless clubs and driving mirrors to make sure you are old enough to drink, watch striptease or drive? And what about the other end of things? Face recognition software to determine if you are eligible for your free bus ride as an Old age Pensioner?

The mind boggles....