Ever marveled at your phone’s ability to recognize your facial features and subsequently unlock? Say thanks to the facial recognition algorithm, which allows your phone to ‘see’ and explains why computer vision is important in ensuring privacy and protecting personal data in the digital age.
Computer vision is a branch of artificial intelligence that can interpret and translate data from all forms of visual media: images, videos, x- ray scans, and use it to derive meaningful conclusions. It essentially mimics the human ability of sight by processing visual data as a human recruit would, thus automating the entire system and saving human time and effort.
How Does It Work?
Any algorithm based on computer vision requires input and an updated database of the object it is supposed to detect and analyze. an application used for medical imaging needs to be fed with images of various pathologies so it can detect and differentiate them in the scans.
Computer vision has three major components: acquiring the image, processing, and comparing it with the database, and image analysis and comprehension. It makes use of two algorithms: deep learning and a convolutional neural network (CNN).
Why Computer Vision is Important in 2022
Computer vision is widely used in many of our real-world applications and saves human time and effort while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of the task required.
- Healthcare:
The addition of computer vision to medical imaging has led to early diagnosis and eventual treatment of disease: a software like Microsoft’s Inner Eye can detect cancerous swellings in x ray and MRI scans which might escape the human eye.
Apart from better screening and diagnostic facilities, computer vision also helps identify patients accurately, minimizing the risk of a patient receiving incorrect treatment. It allows effective implementation of safety procedures in the operating room by detecting whether all the instruments are completely sterile or not.
- Facial Recognition:
Computer vision enables our systems to interpret and recognize facial features by comparing them to their database. It is the most effective tool used for biometrics and identification today: from the lock screens on our private cell phones to multinational social media companies which use facial recognition to confirm the identity of their customers.
It also aids in the identification of criminals from CCTV videos and could thus lead to advancements in law enforcement and improve the security situation of the state.
- Self-driving Cars:
Automatic vehicles need to mimic the human driver and what better way to do it than by providing them with the ability of sight? Computer vision allows self-driving cars to make informed decisions by detecting traffic in different lanes, the curves and bumps on the road, any pedestrians on the crosswalk and read traffic signs.
Autopilot, introduced by Tesla, has revolutionized automated driving by introducing features like ability to switch lanes, driving and parallel parking in parking lots and cruise control. Its enhanced features will lead to increased safety and decrease road traffic accidents.
- Traffic Flow Analysis:
A thorough analysis of the traffic flow at a particular intersection can be formed by surveillance and monitoring of the number of vehicles passing through at a set time. Computer vision algorithms can make use of drones to track vehicles. This enables the city’s council to determine whether to construct new by-roads to decrease traffic jams and removes some of the burden on the traffic police in reducing road accidents.
- Disaster Relief and Emergency:
Computer vision is used by the meteorological department to monitor all potential and ongoing threats: flood, hurricane, volcanic eruptions, or earthquakes. It can allow for early evacuation in a hurricane by detecting sea levels or the shifting of tectonic plates in an earthquake. During the disaster, algorithms like Omdena can evaluate and determine the most effective escape routes and aid in the search for survivors.
Why Computer Vision is Important for Startups
Computer vision has led to the creation of over 1700 startups in the past few years by allowing entrepreneurs to introduce a whole new range of startups in various fields: agriculture, insurance, disaster relief automated vehicles, and medicine. they include companies that work with algorithms that enable an analysis of digital images, videos, and authentication.
Omdena, founded in 2019, is one of the leading players in the world of artificial intelligence today. some other prominent startups include SenseTime, Megvii, Tractable, and Airobotics.
Why Computer Vision is Important for SMEs and Enterprises
Computer vision automates the entire system, saving human time and effort, which allows small and medium enterprises to employ fewer staff and save money on the human resources department. It improves efficiency by better inspection and analysis of goods thus leading to greater return on investment. Computer vision allows the organization to make informed predictions and assess the sustainability of a particular product.
FAQs:
How Is Computer Vision Helpful in Agriculture?
Why Is Computer Vision the Future?
Sight is the most defining human characteristic. once provided with the ability of sight, computer vision can effectively perform all the tasks a human worker can, but with increased efficiency and precision. This has allowed it to dominate the global market today and explains why global vision is important and, on its way, to becoming the most effective application of artificial intelligence.
