The IEEE Computer Society announced to its members on Wednesday that, effective April 1, it will no longer accept papers containing the commonly used image of Lena Forsén, a Playboy model from 1972. Known as the “Lenna image,” this image has been utilized in image processing research since 1973 but has faced criticism for contributing to a sense of exclusion among women in the field.
In an email sent to members, Terry Benzel, the Vice President of Technical & Conference Activities at the IEEE Computer Society, stated, “IEEE’s diversity statement and supporting policies such as the IEEE Code of Ethics speak to IEEE’s commitment to promoting an including and equitable culture that welcomes all. In alignment with this culture and with respect to the wishes of the subject of the image, Lena Forsén, IEEE will no longer accept submitted papers which include the ‘Lena image.'”
Originally appearing as a 512×512-pixel test image in the December 1972 issue of Playboy Magazine, the uncropped version served as the centerfold picture. The use of the Lenna image in image processing began around June or July 1973, when Alexander Sawchuck, an assistant professor, and a graduate student at the University of Southern California Signal and Image Processing Institute scanned a square portion of the centerfold image using a primitive drum scanner, excluding nudity. This scan was initially done for a colleague’s conference paper, subsequently leading to widespread adoption of the image by others in the field.
Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, the image gained traction in various papers, drawing the attention of Playboy, though the company chose to overlook copyright violations. In 1997, Playboy facilitated the location of Forsén, who made an appearance at the 50th Annual Conference of the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, signing autographs for admirers. “They must be so tired of me … looking at the same picture for all these years!” she quipped at the time. Playboy’s Vice President of new media, Eileen Kent, told Wired, “We decided we should exploit this, because it is a phenomenon.”
The image, featuring Forsén’s visage and a bare shoulder adorned with a hat sporting a purple feather, reportedly served as an excellent test subject for early digital image technology due to its high contrast and intricate detail. However, it also presented a sexually suggestive portrayal of an attractive woman. Its persistent use by men in the computing domain has faced critique over the years, particularly from female scientists and engineers. They argue that the image, especially its association with the Playboy brand, objectifies women and fosters an academic environment where they feel unwelcome.
In response to longstanding criticism, dating back to at least 1996, the journal Nature took the step to prohibit the use of the Lena image in paper submissions in 2018.
According to the comp.compression Usenet newsgroup FAQ document, in 1988, a Swedish publication approached Forsén to inquire about her thoughts on her image being used in computer science, to which she reportedly reacted with amusement. However, in a 2019 Wired article by Linda Kinstler, Forsén expressed no resentment toward the image but voiced regret over not being fairly compensated initially. “I’m really proud of that picture,” she told Kinstler at the time.
However, it appears Forsén has since changed her stance. In 2019, Creatable and Code Like a Girl produced an advertising documentary titled “Losing Lena” as part of a campaign aimed at eliminating the use of the Lena image in technology and image processing fields. In a press release for the campaign and film, Forsén is quoted as saying, “I retired from modelling a long time ago. It’s time I retired from tech, too. We can make a simple change today that creates a lasting change for tomorrow. Let’s commit to losing me.”
Relevant articles:
– Playboy image from 1972 gets ban from IEEE computer journals
– Journal publisher bans Playboy centerfold Lena’s image from research papers, NewsBytes, Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:50:18 GMT
– It’s time to retire Lena from computer science, Pursuit, Fri, 13 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMT
– The Playboy Centerfold That Helped Create the JPEG, The Atlantic, Tue, 09 Feb 2016 08:00:00 GMT