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Background and Basic Idea

Roughly speaking, the history of the computer vision research can be summarized as follows (Fig. 3):

-1970s:
Image Processing: Image tex2html_wrap_inline1280 Image
A given input image is transformed into an output image to enhance its quality and to detect image features.
1980s:
Computer Visiongif: Image tex2html_wrap_inline1280 Scene
Recover 3D scene information from observed 2D image(s) based on geometric and photometric models of the imaging process.
1990s:
The following two disciplines are being studied:
  1. Active Vision: Computer Vision tex2html_wrap_inline1284 Physical Action tex2html_wrap_inline1280 Intelligent Tasks
    Integrate visual perception and physical action to perform intelligent tasks.
  2. Image Media Processing:
    Computer Vision tex2html_wrap_inline1284 Computer Graphics tex2html_wrap_inline1280 Versatile Visualization
    Integrate image analysis and synthesis to realize versatile visualization.

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Figure 3: History of computer vision research

The key idea of CDV is to introduce network communication capabilities into active vision and image media processing systems. That is, a CDV system incorporates a group of network-connected cameras (with processors) to augment and improve capabilities of computer vision and visualization systems in the following points:

Dynamic Wide Area Image Capturing and Scene Understanding
: A group of network-connected cameras are distributed over a wide spread area to capture its multiple different views simultaneously and then understand dynamic situations and events in the global scene.
Robustness
: Multiple information from different cameras is integrated to increase the accuracy and reliability of image analysis.
Flexibility
: Cooperative camera group organizations are dynamically formed to cope with various situations in the real world.
Smooth Degradation
: Cameras sharing views compensate each other in case of failures.

With the introduction of network communication capabilities, CDV systems are endowed with three functions of Visual Perception, Action, and Communication. To study the integration of these three functions seems reasonable and timely;

We believe the concept of CDV offers a fundamental scheme of computer vision systems in the 21st century.


next up previous
Next: Integrating PerceptionAction, and Up: Cooperative Distributed Vision Previous: Introduction