Computer Science at Yale

Abstract: Efforts to understand human vision have largely focused on our abilities to perceive the geometric properties of objects such as shapes, sizes, and distances, and have neglected the perception of materials. However correctly perceiving materials is at least as important as perceiving objects, and human vision allows us to tell if objects are hard or soft, smooth or rough, clean or dirty, new or worn, fresh or spoiled, and dead or alive. Understanding the perception of material properties is therefore of critical importance in many fields. In this talk I will first show how we have been using image synthesis techniques to develop psychophysical models of material perception that can relate the physical properties of materials to their visual appearances. I will then describe how we have been taking advantage of the limits of material perception to develop new image synthesis techniques for efficiently rendering complex scenes. Finally I will discuss some recent efforts to develop advanced display systems that allow more realistic visualization of complex objects and materials, and allow hands-on interaction with virtual surfaces.

Bio: James A. Ferwerda is an Associate Professor in the Munsell Color Science Laboratory in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He received a B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Computer Graphics, and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, all from Cornell University. The focus of his research is on building computational models of human vision from psychophysical experiments, and developing advanced graphics algorithms based on these models. Research interests include material appearance, perceptually-based rendering, advanced display systems, and low vision and assistive technologies. He is an Associate Editor of ACM Transactions on Applied Perception, was Guest Editor of the edition of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications on Applied Perception, and serves as a member of CIE Technical Committee TC8-08 on High Dynamic Range Imaging. In 2003 he was selected for the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Program.