It is quite surprising how image processing has evolved recently and how versatile it has become. Computer vision, whose core is image processing, leaves us speechless when we see its abilities, starting from facial recognition to self-driving cars. Without a doubt, it is not only a trivial technological advancement only to be used by enthusiasts of computer news, but quite the opposite; it has become an integral part of healthcare, entertainment, security, and even agriculture. What is image processing, and how can it be used?
What is image processing?
The explanation of image processing is quite simple, and it involves the transformation of an image into a digital form for further use.
The first category is visualisation, which is used to track invisible objects in the image. The next phase is recognition, which allows for the detection of objects in the image. It is also possible to sharpen and restore an image that is blurred or damaged. For some purposes, pattern recognition around the objects can be used, and finally, it makes it possible to browse images that are similar to the original ones provided.
The versatility of image processing
There is a wide range of fields that take advantage of image processing for better productivity, process management, restoration of images, or even control of human traffic.
Object detection
With the need to identify and locate objects within images, image processing is just perfect for the task. It is enough to use agriculture and the use of images taken by drones to analyse crops health, soil condition, and even the use of resources. It is also used in self-driving cars, which need to recognise pedestrians, animals, and objects in the way.
The use of image recognition in medicine is not a new case, as it has been used for a long time now with X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. The benefits of technology in medicine are undeniable, helping to detect dangerous medical conditions such as breast cancer. The importance of image processing algorithms is high, as the health and life of patients may depend on them. To learn more anout object detection, you can use SentiSight.ai free trial, which will guide you through the process.
Image Classification
A different task taht image processing is an expert at is the image classification, which allows to predict the content of images. The process may have two forms, single-label classification, predicting one specified class, which is easier to train and is more trustworthy, and multi-label classification, predicting all of the specified classes, used when there are more objects to be tracked within one image.
This function can be used for facial recognition in companies as the top security measurement to grant access to different documents or parts of the company. It can also be used as a track of time worked, with the scan of the face at the beginning and the end of a working day. Finally, facial recognition is the perfect tool to track people who are criminals, or simply to identify passengers at the airport.
Image similarity search
When a large database is in use, it may be quite useful to use image similarity search, which allows to find similar images to the presented one. It is widely used on e-commerce, content management, and visual recognition.
It is enough to look at how search engines work when you upload an image of an object you want to find. The algorithms allow you to find the same objects, and are able to suggest simila products too.
The function is also used in media, art, and design, for both tracking the original source of the image, and the search for similar designs and works of art. Read more here if you are interested of the use of the image processing for your business.
