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A Computer Vision System Processes Images Acquired

Computer vision is a field of computer science focused on enabling machines to process and understand images and videos similarly to human vision. Its evolution has progressed from basic pattern recognition in the 1960s to advanced applications using deep learning and AI in recent years, significantly impacting various industries. The goal is to create systems that can accurately interpret visual data, leading to innovations in areas like healthcare, security, and autonomous vehicles.

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8 views4 pages

A Computer Vision System Processes Images Acquired

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mideksaaberak

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Introduction to Computer Vision

What is computer vision?

Definition
Two definitions of computer vision Computer vision can be defined
as a field of computer science,and it aims at enabling computers to process and
identify images and videos in the same way that human vision does.The type of
information gained from an image can vary from identification,
space measurements for navigation, or augmented reality
applications.

Another way to define computer vision is through its applications.

Computer vision is building algorithms that can understand the content of images
and use it for other applications.

The objective is to build artificial systems which can extract

information from images, i.e., objective is to make computers
understand images and videos. The image data may be a video
sequence,depth images,views from multiple cameras,or multi-
dimensional data from image sensors.The main objective of
computer vision is to describe a real world scene in one or more
images and to identify and reconstruct its properties, such as colour
characteristics, shape information, texture characteristics, scene
illumination, etc
The basic principle of human visual system and a computer vision
system is almost same, i.e., conversion of light into useful
signals/information from which accurate models of the physical
world are constructed. Similarly, when considered at a high level,
the structures of human and computer vision are somewhat similar,
i.e., both have light sensors which convert photons into a signal
(image), a processing step, and finally a mechanism to interpret the
signal (object recognition).

Human visual system vs computer vision

Brief History and Evolution of Computer Vision
The field of computer vision has undergone significant transformations since its inception, driven by
advancements in technology, algorithms, and computational power. Here's a look at the key milestones in its
history and evolution:

1960s: Foundations Laid

The 1960s marked the birth of computer vision, with initial experiments focused on enabling machines to
recognize simple patterns and objects. Early research aimed at developing basic image processing techniques,
such as edge detection, which is crucial for identifying object boundaries in images. These foundational studies
set the stage for more advanced developments in the years to come.

1970s-1980s: Emergence of AI and Machine Learning

During the 1970s and 1980s, computer vision research gained momentum with the integration of artificial
intelligence (AI) and machine learning. This era saw the development of more sophisticated algorithms for
image segmentation, which involves dividing an image into meaningful regions, and motion analysis, which
studies the movement of objects within a sequence of images. Researchers also began exploring 3D
reconstruction, allowing computers to create three-dimensional models from two-dimensional images.

1990s: Digital Revolution and Internet Boom

The 1990s brought about a digital revolution with the advent of digital cameras and the proliferation of the
internet. This period saw a surge in the availability of visual data, which fueled further research in computer
vision. Significant progress was made in object recognition and feature extraction, enabling computers to
identify and categorize objects within images more accurately. The increased access to digital images and
videos provided a rich dataset for training and refining computer vision algorithms.

2000s: Rise of Big Data and Powerful Computing

The 2000s witnessed a significant leap in computer vision capabilities, driven by the rise of big data and the
availability of powerful computing resources. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), a type of deep learning
architecture, emerged during this time, revolutionizing the field. CNNs dramatically improved the accuracy and
speed of visual recognition tasks by mimicking the human brain's visual processing. This decade also saw the
integration of computer vision into various applications, from facial recognition systems to autonomous
vehicles.

2010s-Present: Deep Learning and Real-World Applications

In the 2010s, computer vision reached new heights with the advent of deep learning, which further enhanced the
performance of visual recognition systems. Deep learning models, trained on vast amounts of data, achieved
remarkable accuracy in tasks such as image classification, object detection, and scene understanding. This
period also saw the widespread adoption of computer vision in real-world applications, including healthcare
diagnostics, retail analytics, security systems, and autonomous driving.
Today, computer vision continues to evolve, with ongoing research aimed at making machines perceive and
interpret the visual world as humans do. Innovations in hardware, such as specialized AI chips, and
advancements in algorithms, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), are pushing the boundaries of
what computer vision can achieve. The future of computer vision holds immense potential for transforming
industries and improving our daily lives through increasingly intelligent and capable visual systems.

Computer Vision is the process whereby a machine, usually a digital

computer, automatically processes an image and reports “what is in
the image.” That is, it recognizes the content of the image. For
example, the content may be a machined part, and the objective
may be not only to locate the part but to inspect it as well

Figure 1.1 A Computer Vision system accepts an input that is an

image and produces a number of measurements extracted from the
image. These measurements are called features and are provided to
a pattern recognition system that makes a decision about the object
or objects being imaged.