Comparing object recognition from binary and bipolar edge images for visual prostheses

Jae-Hyun Jung; Tian Pu; Eli Peli

doi:10.1117/1.JEI.25.6.061619

22 December 2016 Comparing object recognition from binary and bipolar edge images for visual prostheses

Jae-Hyun Jung, Tian Pu, Eli Peli

Author Affiliations +

Funded by: Joint Program Committee 8, Neurosensory and Rehabilitative Research Program

Journal of Electronic Imaging, Vol. 25, Issue 6, 061619 (December 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JEI.25.6.061619

Abstract

Visual prostheses require an effective representation method due to the limited display condition which has only 2 or 3 levels of grayscale in low resolution. Edges derived from abrupt luminance changes in images carry essential information for object recognition. Typical binary (black and white) edge images have been used to represent features to convey essential information. However, in scenes with a complex cluttered background, the recognition rate of the binary edge images by human observers is limited and additional information is required. The polarity of edges and cusps (black or white features on a gray background) carries important additional information; the polarity may provide shape from shading information missing in the binary edge image. This depth information may be restored by using bipolar edges. We compared object recognition rates from 16 binary edge images and bipolar edge images by 26 subjects to determine the possible impact of bipolar filtering in visual prostheses with 3 or more levels of grayscale. Recognition rates were higher with bipolar edge images and the improvement was significant in scenes with complex backgrounds. The results also suggest that erroneous shape from shading interpretation of bipolar edges resulting from pigment rather than boundaries of shape may confound the recognition.

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Jae-Hyun Jung, Tian Pu, and Eli Peli "Comparing object recognition from binary and bipolar edge images for visual prostheses," Journal of Electronic Imaging 25(6), 061619 (22 December 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JEI.25.6.061619

Received: 1 May 2016; Accepted: 17 November 2016; Published: 22 December 2016

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