What can a computer do with the basic senses we have?
To begin to answer this question the Vision Group of the MIT Artificial
Intelligence Lab has launched the research project A Forest of Sensors.
This project is designed to identify current limitations and expand the
capabilities of computers to perceive and interpret the real world.
Why is this hard?
Humans have the "hard-wired" potential to track and make sense out of
objects in the environment that has evolved over many millions of years.
These hard-wired capabilities are realized in the context of real world
experience. MIT's AI Vision Group is challenged both with trying to give
computers the same "potential" AND providing them with real world
experiences necessary to realize it.
Giving the computer eyes.
To help computers gain experience with the real world, researchers have
given them eyes-a collection of cameras-through which they can see their
surroundings. Taking in visual information through its cameras, the
computer then tracks organizes the objects it sees.