What is Computer Vision?

Computer vision (CV) is the subcategory of artificial intelligence (AI) that focuses on building and using digital systems to process, analyze and interpret visual data. The goal of computer vision is to enable computing devices to correctly identify an object or person in a digital image and take appropriate action.

Computer vision uses convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to processes visual data at the?pixel?level and?deep learning?recurrent neural network (RNNs) to understand how one?pixel?relates to another.

Uses for computer vision include:

Biometric?access management -- CV plays an important role in both facial and iris recognition. It is used to:

• Identify specific facial features and use this information to determine whether a face is present.
• Extract a set of unique facial features such as the distance between the eyes or the shape of the nose to create a template that represents a specific individual's face.
• Match the template with a single image in the database.

Industrial robots and self-driving cars -- CV allows robots and?autonomous vehicles?to avoid collisions and navigate safely. It is used to:

• Allow self-driving cars to identify and distinguish objects such as traffic lights, pedestrians and road signs.
• Detect and track the edges of the road.
• Plan a path through traffic by predicting the motion of other objects in the environment.

Digital diagnostics -- CV can be used in tandem with other types of artificial intelligence programming to?provide diagnostic support. It is used to:

• Segment medical images into different regions of interest, such as organs or bones.
• Remove noise and enhance image contrast to make it easier for doctors to identify abnormalities.
• Support computer-aided diagnosis systems that analyze medical images.

Augmented reality -- CV allows?mixed reality?programming to know where a virtual object should be placed. It is used to:

• Detect specific features in the environment, such as corners or edges, which can be used as reference points for aligning digital content with the real world.
• Align digital content with the user's viewpoint.

Manufacturing -- CV helps to automate processes, improve quality control and increase efficiency. It is used to:

• Inspect completed products and identify defects.
• Guide machines and industrial robots as they perform tasks.
• Monitor machinery and issue flags when maintenance is required.

Retail Sales -- CV can be used to optimize store layouts and improve the overall shopping experience. It is used to:

• Monitor store entrances and exits.
• Quantify inventory levels by counting the number of items.
• Detect and prevent fraud in self-checkout systems.