The Birth of Computer Vision

The Birth of Computer Vision reveals the genealogy of image-recognition techniques and technologies from the 1950s and 60s Cold War culture, highlighting the biases and ways of understanding the world that persist today. It uncovers the connections between algorithms, people, and politics at the core of automating perception and explores the development of important computer-vision algorithms, their military origins, and their lingering goals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2023
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

The fascinating genealogy of image-recognition techniques and technologies can be traced back to the Cold War era of the 1950s and 60s. The most advanced neural networks and sophisticated image-analysis methods that we rely on today have their roots in this period. However, it is important to note that many of the biases and ways of understanding the world that emerged during this time persist alongside these technologies.

Aerial surveillance and reconnaissance played a pivotal role in shaping the technologies that we now refer to as computer vision, including facial recognition. In his book, "The Birth of Computer Vision," James E. Dobson delves into these histories and uncovers the connections between the algorithms, people, and politics that have shaped the automating of perception today.

Dobson explores how new forms of computerized surveillance systems, high-tech policing, and automated decision-making systems have become intertwined, functioning together as a powerful technological apparatus of social control. He traces the development of several important computer-vision algorithms and highlights the ideas, military origins, and lingering goals reproduced within the code and the products based on it. By examining how these algorithms became linked to one another and repurposed for domestic and commercial uses, Dobson sheds light on the complex web of connections that underpin our modern perception of the world.

One of the key aspects of Dobson's book is his analysis of the Shakey Project, which produced the first semi-autonomous robot. He also delves into the impact of student protest in the early 1970s at Stanford University, which played a significant role in shaping the development of computer vision. Additionally, he recovers the computer vision-related aspects of Frank Rosenblatt's Perceptron, which is considered a crucial link between machine learning and computer vision.

Motivated by the ongoing use of these major algorithms and methods, "The Birth of Computer Vision" chronicles the foundations of computer vision and artificial intelligence, its major transformations, and the questionable legacy of its origins. Dobson provides a comprehensive overview of the field, including its historical context, technical advancements, and ethical considerations.

In conclusion, "The Birth of Computer Vision" is a thought-provoking book that sheds light on the origins and evolution of image-recognition techniques and technologies. By tracing the connections between the algorithms, people, and politics at the core of computer vision, Dobson offers a valuable perspective on the ethical and societal implications of these technologies. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the field of computer vision and artificial intelligence.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517914202