Fooling Computers With Optical Illusions Is A Step In The Right Direction
from the maybe-my-laptop-will-appreciate-escher-soon dept
Just a few weeks ago, computers were learning to understand knock knock jokes. Now, computers take another step towards being human; they are fooled by optical illusions, just like us. By creating a computer program that learns how to comprehend different shades of gray similar to the way that an infant learns, the computer also falls prey to White's Illusion, an illusion in which bands of gray appear different even though they are the same shade. This is an important step in computer vision since this illusion is not a physiological one, where optical sensors send the brain the wrong image, but rather, a cognitive one, where perception of an image is misinterpreted. As we get closer to true artificial intelligence, what other kinds of human faults will computers be able to emulate? And, considering that computers are already better than us at certain tasks, will those faults be amplified? After all, "to err is human, to really screw up you need a computer."
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
actually, this IS a physiological illusion
Although when talking about neurons this distinction is fairly meaningless. Nevertheless, it's the case that this effect occurs before the signal ever leaves your retina, which most people would regard as a physiological issue. The reason has to do with a contrast-enhancing property afforded by a layer of inhibitory neurons. See here and read the part about "lateral inhibition".
It's interesting that they've managed to get their system to fail in some of the same ways that the human visual system fails, but it's silly to take this as a signal that computer vision will mirror that of people. The human visual system is very good at some things and machines *will* have to replicate those tricks. But determining luminance is not one of those things -- robots have got us pretty well beat when it comes to that, and there's no reason they should regress on that score. This research is probably intended more to shed light on human biology than on future technology.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Vision in Electronics
One of the best uses of 'eyes' that I have seen so far, is the Wii.
The little sensor bar that allows part of its motion sensing to work works simply because it has two tiny sensors at either end of the bar.
The same way humans have our good depth perception (to a distance). By having 2 eyes.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Vision in Electronics
The Wii? That's the most important thing you could think of while we're discussing aritificial intelligences' human faults? Duck Hunt isn't any different and that came out in '84 or something
"The same way humans have our good depth perception (to a distance). By having 2 eyes." Thanks for the pointless general knowledge statement that proves you're an authority on the subject.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
that's also wrong, killer_tofu
Sorry, I don't mean to just come to this thread and be a jerk to everyone. But the wii sensor bar actually contains two infrared LEDs, which emit light but don't detect anything. The wiimote has a single IR-sensitive camera in it. Have a look at this video, in which two candles (which also emit infrared light) are used to replace the sensor bar.
The fact that the position of those two IR LEDs can be assumed to remain constant (and their orientation can be assumed to be horizontal) allows the Wiimote to calculate where it's pointing relative to the sensor bar. The spatial relationship between the TV and Wii is calibrated by the user when they set up the console.
A one-eyed man staring at two dots painted on the wall is a closer analogy to how the Wii actually works.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Can you do this?
If people like this show up at airports, what will the face scanner do?
http://www.lacourphoto.net/uploaded_images/Headless-Gymnast-WEB-2-742131.jpg
http://www.la courphoto.net/uploaded_images/Headless-Gymnast-WEB-2-742131.jpg
Do these letters look crooked?
http://chalow.net/image/051101-ggandamu.png
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Children Are Less Intelligent Than Cats
Four-year-olds cannot tell these faces apart.
http://www.brocku.ca/psychology/original-girl.jpg
http://www.brocku.ca/psychology/spaci ng-girl.jpg
Details:
http://www.brocku.ca/psychology/research/infantchildparentinfo.htm
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
There's always..
..this good test of vision, as well.
http://www.computerpranks.com/download/programs/fun/swf/sabotage/vision.swf
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
^^thats one of those scare pranks btw if you guys didnt know
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Heh
I would have assumed so by the computerpranks.com part. Those used to be the rave when they were first coming out. Man that seems like forever ago.
Tom, thank you for correcting my on how the Wii truly works.
I better understand now.
#3, Person who trying to rip on my name,
Apparently you have no vision or imagination. Using technology such as the Wii is some of the first true steps towards making virtual reality real for everybody.
No longer must you wear a huge heavy suit to be able to sense where you are pointing or your movements. And now, the whole public has access to it. Or is this your first time ever reading about these ideas? They are very closely related.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: that's also wrong, killer_tofu
Good, but what am I wrong about? Stupid comments, or Zappers Vs Wii-motes? LOL
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
THE LAWNMOWER MAN IS IN YOUR HEAD NOW, JAKE
I have more vision and imagination than you ever will. Virtual Reality and Wii Motes are closesly related? Not any more closely related than an Nes Zapper (In usage, not build), or maybe my Sega Menacer. Look, aside from more of your general knowledge statements, comparing the Wiimotes to virtual reality "for everyone" is like comparing cars to personal spacecrafts; OH ITS THE FIRST STEP BECAUSE IT GOES!
You must be a woman, LOL. Don't bother trying to show me the irony of my "useless comments" concept either.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Hmm
I have this odd feeling you are either not a video gamer, have never played the wii, or both.
Pointing the simple gun long ago used a flash of light and black vs white on the TV (light intensity by blanking screen, then white where the sprites were on frame 2, with a diode detecting the increase of intensity). These are external to the TV (see above post by Tom). Not to mention the gun had a very limited purpose, point and shoot. The Wii has point and shoot, tilt, rotation, distance, and elevation. Quite a leap over the point and click guns from the Zapper through the PS2 guns and their ilk.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Robot brains, meat computers
The more closely computers are designed to mimic human intelligence, the more they will also suffer from the same psychological problems. It is assumed by many (but not all) that psychology is an extension of biology. But when a non-biological mechanical intelligence shows mental hangups, that will expose the biological theory for the farce that it is. We are really just learning what makes a mind, and meat is not the only thing that can think.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Hmm
Meh, I've got more videogames than I feel like arguing about and you're seriously out of your league assuming otherwise. I've had my fun for today. Goodbye.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Re: Hmm
You can always spot a twelve-year-old on the internet.
"I've had my fun for today. Goodbye."
Which translates to "I'm going to post some intentionally inflammatory (and poorly thought out) comments, then pretend it was all to get a slight rise out of a complete stranger correcting me, and then claim I knew it all along! I'm so clever, I wish my parents paid attention to me."
Someone can't really be "out of their league" in assuming anything, that just doesn't make sense. You're right though, owning something and understanding it are completely different, and I'm sure your parent's money was well spent on the Wii and various other substitutions for real parenting.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
subject
hey brad i have a wii
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Re: Re: Hmm
i have a wii brad??????? and i have 13 games i have $$$$$$
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment