Overviewed are recent results of a new general approach to image under
standing and computer vision utilizing the sensing of polarization of
light. Whereas human vision is oblivious to components of light polari
zation, polarization parameters of light are shown to provide an impor
tant visual extension to intensity and color significantly expanding t
he application potential for image understanding. A physical state of
polarization can be visualized directly in human terms as a particular
hue and saturation, and this paper utilizes such a scheme presenting
images of ordinary scenes as never seen before by humans in the domain
of polarization vision. Metaphorically, humans are 'color blind' with
respect to the perception of polarization, and even though this does
not appear to inhibit human visual performance, we show how polarizati
on vision is a sensory augmentation that can significantly enhance bot
h automated image understanding and even possibly improve human visual
performance itself under certain conditions. Sensors, called polariza
tion cameras, have been developed that automatically sense components
of partial linear polarization and computationally process these compo
nents to produce polarization images. Prototypes of different polariza
tion camera sensors have been presented in earlier literature. A recen
t advancement in the design of polarization cameras has made it possib
le to interface low-cost modular components with almost any existing i
maging device converting it into an automatic polarization camera. Thi
s compatibility with small portable imaging devices is making polariza
tion imaging for the first time accessible to a number of application
areas outside the laboratory, both outdoors and underwater, revealing
polarization vision as a vast new visually augmented domain with uniqu
e capabilities. This paper presents various results from three on-goin
g field applications: natural object recognition, inspection of ship h
ulls for damage, and marine biology.