So, what is image recognition technology?
What is Image Recognition Technology?
Image recognition technology is the ability to identify an object or objects in a picture using image recognition techniques.
How does image recognition do this?
Image recognition uses a set of algorithms and techniques. These are then used to label and classify what the image contains (elements). With this, image recognition centers on identifying contents inside an image.
Moreover, this is possible by image recognition models. In return, image recognition models are programmed to take image input and output to define the image.
Is Image Recognition the Same with Computer/Machine Vision?
No, it is not.
Although image recognition and computer or machine vision appear to be related terms, image recognition is only a subset of it.
Because image recognition is the technique used for identifying image contents.
How about computer vision?
Computer vision concerns obtaining, describing, and producing results based on the field of application. So image recognition is one of its components.
Moreover, computer vision has the following capabilities:
- Event detection
- Learning
- Image reconstruction
- Object tracking
How about machine vision?
On the other hand, machine vision involves hardware and software computer vision. Thus, both computer vision and image recognition are under the umbrella of machine vision.
Why is Image Recognition Popular Now?
Image recognition has plenty of applications.
For example:
- Improves the effectiveness of deep learning in the past ten years.
- It also reduces the camera size and cost. Not to mention the growth of smartphone usage and image-based social media platforms.
The image recognition market is expected to grow from 15.9 billion in 2016 to 38.9 billion by 2021. That is, with a CAGR of 19.5% during the time of analysis. (According to the MarketsandMarkets)
Who Uses the Image Recognition Technology?
See how image recognition is applied in different areas.
Automotive Industry
Self-driving cars are under image recognition technology.
For example, these innovative cars make use of multiple video cameras and LIDAR. These tools create the images and the image recognition technology helps the computer to detect them. Like other vehicles, traffic lights, and other objects around the car.
Healthcare Industry
Detecting illnesses is now more advanced and accurate using image recognition.
For example, new technologies with image recognition can detect lung cancers with up to 97% accuracy.
Also, brain strokes and tumors make use of the technology.
Security Industry
Using the technology, face recognition is easier for security purposes. This is why home security systems are getting smarter and powerful.
Retail Industry
In retail, shops like Timberland and Topshop make use of the technology with virtual mirror technology. As a result, customers can see how they look with the clothes. That is even without wearing them.
E-commerce Marketing
Customer habits and demands are also changing because of this new technology. In fact, according to Forbes, the visual search market will grow and exceed $25 million in 2021. This is a result of how image recognition is changing the way we market online.