Computer vision is a field of AI focused on enabling machines to interpret and understand visual data from the world.
A computer vision system in a retail store analyzes foot traffic and shopper behavior to optimize product placement.
Computer vision is the area of AI that lets machines interpret and understand visual data from the world whether that’s a single image or a live video stream.
Three pillars stand out: image processing (enhancing and analyzing images), object recognition (identifying specific items or features in images/videos), and real-time processing (handling video streams for immediate insights).
Image processing improves and analyzes the picture itself, while object recognition focuses on finding and naming specific things inside that picture or video.
Real-time capabilities process video as it happens, making it useful when instant insights are needed—like monitoring a scene or interacting with changing environments.
Common uses include facial recognition (e.g., unlocking phones or identifying individuals), surveillance (spotting suspicious activity in security footage), and augmented reality (overlaying digital objects onto the real world).
A store can use computer vision to analyze foot traffic and shopper behavior, then optimize product placement based on what the visual data reveals.