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SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

simplecv.org

11–20 of 39 posts

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#12

Unfortunately computer vision libraries and toolsets are the worst offenders of making each algorithm a 'hammer' when traditional problems are not a 'nail'. A good example is "Detecting a Car" ( http://tutorial.simplecv.org/en/latest/examples/parking.html ), where the mean color is used to determine if a car is in the image. A nice little exercise, but it oversimplifies the process. Each allows the user to step in a…

Honestly, I thought that was a good introductory tutorial to their library.

It's pretty clear that it's only trying to look for a specific car, in a specific spot. And it's obvious that they're taking advantage of the car's bright color to do this, which isn't generally applicable.

It's a toy algorithm, but it's approachable for somebody with no CV experience.

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#14

I'll put in a plug for the accompanying book: http://simplecv.org/book Very clear, well written, for a complete CV novice.

O'Reilly is currently having a 50% off sale on this ebook:

http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920024057.do?code=WK5STA...

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#15
post #8

I love OpenCV. Even with the slightly outdated and incomplete wrapper in Ruby, you can still have a lot of fun with it. This was posted on HN some time ago and remains one of my favorite creative uses of OpenCV: "So I Suck At 24: Automating Card Games Using OpenCV and Python" http://arnab.org/blog/so-i-suck-24-automating-card-games-usi...

I agree. I recently used OpenCV to process some photos of some documents, and it was very awesome. I particularly liked the python 'cv2' bindings. Not bad. It was my first time really using NumPy, in a deep way, and it actually performed decently.

But, that said, after reading all the OpenCV posts on Stack Overflow and also going through a ton of OpenCV tutorials, I found that the library couldn't meet my needs, in a lot of ways. (Apparently, processing text documents from camera images is a lot harder than I thought!) So, now I'm off reading research papers on image processing, like I don't have anything better to do.

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#16
post #5

Unfortunately computer vision libraries and toolsets are the worst offenders of making each algorithm a 'hammer' when traditional problems are not a 'nail'. A good example is "Detecting a Car" ( http://tutorial.simplecv.org/en/latest/examples/parking.html ), where the mean color is used to determine if a car is in the image. A nice little exercise, but it oversimplifies the process. Each allows the user to step in a…

This statement is an oversimplification. Computer Vision libraries are essentially Swiss army knives. If the person without reasonable understanding of Computer Vision research thinks that he can solve the problem, that is the person's problem. Again I wouldn't blame the naive software engineer who thinks he can solve these problems, because our (extremely complex) visual process makes it all seem very simple. Even M…

I honestly can't tell if you agree or disagree. My sentiment on the subject was that CV libraries are good swiss army knives, but to continue the analogy - you wouldn't tell someone that all you need to survive in the wilderness is said swiss army knife.

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#17

Check out this beard length detector I wrote in 22 lines of Python with SimpleCV http://labs.radiantmachines.com/beard/

I'm looking to measure dimensions of objects using computer vision libraries. I think it is impossible to do this without a reference scale in the same image.

What is the unit of measure for line.length()?

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#18

Check out this beard length detector I wrote in 22 lines of Python with SimpleCV http://labs.radiantmachines.com/beard/

I'm looking to measure dimensions of objects using computer vision libraries. I think it is impossible to do this without a reference scale in the same image. What is the unit of measure for line.length()?

For my use it is just arbitrary. SimpleCV does have the ability to calibrate cameras, which should give you what you want.

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm looking to measure dimensions of objects using computer vision libraries. I think it is impossible to do this without a reference scale in the same image. What is the unit of measure for line.length()?

For my use it is just arbitrary. SimpleCV does have the ability to calibrate cameras, which should give you what you want.

You can calibrate the camera, estimating the intrinsic params such as focal length. But for size you would need two images and to know the location each were taken relative to each other (extrinsic params). This is not impossible, just more difficult than a simple calibration and photo snap.

On top of that, you will have to be able to identify the object you are trying to measure (unless it is a manually driven process).

Re: SimpleCV – Computer Vision platform using Python

#20
I have been working on CV with an emphasis on mobile phones/robotics. The big issue is the lack of consistent documentation. It is either scattered all over the web, or outdated. Been writing a document to address this, but it is still not done.

If you want to play with CV, just get a Raspberry pi, the camera module, and have fun. The Rpi makes it easy to move it around without much trouble. You can even add CV to many different appliances with the Rpi.

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