Week 5 – Reading Response
-> Computer Vision for Artists and Designers
I believe that computer vision differs from human vision in several ways. First, unlike human vision, which is connected to cognition, experience, and contextual understanding, computer vision processes images as raw pixel data. This means that it does not know what it is looking at unless it is programmed to recognise specific patterns. Second, humans are able to recognise objects in various lighting conditions and angles, while computer vision usually has a hard time with these unless trained on extensive datasets. Additionally, human vision uses sensory data in real time with prior knowledge, while computer vision relies on predefined algorithms to take out meaningful information. Lastly, on instinct, humans are able to infer meaning from abstract images or recognise emotions in facial expressions, but computer vision needs complex models to achieve basic levels of recognition.
Due to the fact that computer vision lacks human intuition, we can improve its ability to recognise and track objects. This may be done by using lighting conditions to ensure the subject is distinguishable from the background (Myron Krueger’s Videoplace). Also, you could enhance visibility in low-light conditions by using infrared light, which is not visible to humans but detectable by cameras. Computer vision’s ability to track people and objects has a significant impact on interactive art. This means that artists can now use vision-based systems to create interactive installations that respond to body movement, voice, or gestures. It can also be used to highlight issues of privacy, surveillance, and control (Sorting Daemon). Overall, computer vision can reshape interactive art by allowing new forms of engagement, however, its surveillance capabilities also raise questions about privacy and ethics. This means that while this technology enables creative expression, it can also be a tool for control, highlighting the importance for artists/designers to handle these implications thoughtfully.