Introduction to Computer Vision - Algorithmia Blog

Using software to parse the world's visual content is as big of a revolution in computing as mobile was 10 years ago, and will provide a major edge for developers and businesses to build amazing products. Computer Vision is the process of using machines to understand and analyze imagery (both photos and videos). While these types of algorithms have been around in various forms since the 1960's, recent advances in Machine Learning, as well as leaps forward in data storage, computing capabilities, and cheap high-quality input devices, have driven major improvements in how well our software can explore this kind of content. Computer Vision is the broad parent name for any computations involving visual content – that means images, videos, icons, and anything else with pixels involved. A classical application of computer vision is handwriting recognition for digitizing handwritten content (we'll explore more use cases below). Any other application that involves understanding pixels through software can safely be labeled as computer vision.