Real time realization of early visual perception

Sophisticated image processing is coming into the commercial computer mains tream, especially due to the current explosion in multimedia information te chnologies, With the present machine vision industry focused primarily on i ndustrial applications, there exist unique opportunities for neurally inspi red algorithms and architectures to demonstrate their advantages in product s directed towards the emerging consumer vision market. This paper lays out several likely scenarios for product development. Several types of hardwar e-specific architectures are explored. With emphasis on iconic processes th at describe early visual perception, analog VLSI implementation is shown to be a powerful implementation option for processing of sensor data, either during or immediately following image formation. Example results are shown from IC Tech's research and development projects. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.