How Computer Vision is Different from Human Vision
Computer vision and human vision work in very different ways. People can see and understand images quickly because our brains recognize patterns, shapes, and objects naturally. We also understand depth, colors, and movement easily. Computers, however, need special instructions to “see” things. They analyze images by looking at tiny dots called pixels and using math to find patterns. Unlike humans, computers have trouble with things like bad lighting, unclear backgrounds, or objects that look similar. This means computer vision needs special tricks to work well in different situations.
How We Help Computers See and Track Objects
Since computers do not see like humans, we use special techniques to help them track objects. One method is frame differencing, where the computer looks at two pictures and spots the differences to detect movement. Background subtraction helps the computer ignore things that do not change and focus only on moving objects. Another technique is brightness thresholding, where the computer finds objects based on how bright or dark they are. More advanced methods use color tracking or infrared cameras to improve accuracy. These tools help computers find and follow objects better, even in complex scenes.
How Computer Vision Affects Interactive Art and Surveillance
Computer vision is used in art to make interactive experiences where people can control things with their movements. For example, in Myron Krueger’s Videoplace, people’s shadows on a screen could interact with digital images. Artists also use computer vision to explore serious topics like surveillance. In Sorting Daemon, David Rokeby used it to study how cameras track people in public places. Another example, Suicide Box, recorded people jumping off a bridge to show how some events are ignored by society. While computer vision makes art more exciting, it also raises questions about privacy and how technology watches people without their permission.