After reading and understanding “Computer Vision for Artists and Designers” I found it particularly interesting how computer vision is able to turn an individual’s physical movements and environment into a method of interactive art through digital media. It was definitely enjoyable to be able to see examples of interactive artworks that were shown in the article as they revealed that a camera does not simply have to be used to record someone or something, instead it can be used as a meaningful tool to make an artwork responsive. The LimboTime project also stood out to me because it showed me that even beginner programmers can create an interactive game using simple computer vision techniques. A key topic that was mentioned about the physical environment was also interesting as I was previously unaware of how elements such as lighting, contrast, and background can influence a computer’s ability to detect a person.
Computer vision differs from human vision as humans are able to naturally understand what they are seeing in front of them, whereas computers can only see an image as a collection of pixels. Therefore, a computer tends to require several specific instructions and codes to recognize peculiar things in images.Computer vision also relies heavily on the conditions of the surrounding environment, whereas humans are generally able to distinguish an object from its surroundings more easily.
There are particular techniques that have been mentioned in the text which are used to help the computer in tracking and seeing what we are interested in. Some examples that are mentioned include frame differencing which compares two video frames in order to detect movement. Background subtraction which is also similar but compares the current image to an image of the empty background in order to identify the difference. Brightness thresholding is another technique which is mentioned which allows the computer to identify objects based on whether they are lighter or darker than the surrounding threshold. Techniques such as finding the lightest or darkest pixel can also be used to identify specific objects.
I think computer vision’s tracking and surveillance approach can have both a positive and negative effect on interactive art. When looking at the positives, this approach invites artists to create meaningful experiences where their artworks can respond directly to the viewer’s body, movement, or facial expressions. This therefore invites the audience to make their own interpretations of the artwork through personal experience and involvement. However, one of the disadvantages that particularly stood out to me when reading the text is the concerns regarding privacy and surveillance as this technology can be used to monitor individuals without their knowledge or consent. This therefore reveals that computer vision can be both a useful tool for creating interaction and also invites artists to question how technology can observe and collect information about us.