Vision Realistic Rendering

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               ***Joint Seminar***
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The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Center of Visual Computing and Image Science
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Speaker:	Professor Brian A. Barsky
		Computer Science Division and School of Optometry
		University of California, Berkeley

Title:		"Vision Realistic Rendering"

Date:		Wednesday, 12 January 2011

Time:		3:30pm - 4:30pm

Venue:		Lecture Theater H (near lifts 27/28), HKUST

Abstract:

Vision-realistic rendering (VRR) is the computer generation of synthetic
images to simulate a subject's vision, by incorporating the
characteristics of a particular individual's entire optical system. Using
measured aberration data from a Shack-Hartmann wavefront aberrometry
device, VRR modifies input images to simulate the appearance of the scene
for the individual patient. Each input image can be a photograph,
synthetic image created by computer, frame from a video, or standard
Snellen acuity eye chart -- as long as there is accompanying depth
information. An eye chart is very revealing, since it shows what the
patient would see during an eye examination, and provides an accurate
picture of his or her vision.  Using wavefront aberration measurements, we
determine a discrete blur function by sampling at a set of focusing
distances, specified as a set of depth planes that discretize the
three-dimensional space. For each depth plane, we construct an
object-space blur filter.  VRR methodolgy comprises several steps:  (1)
creation of a set of depth images, (2) computation of blur filters, (3)
stratification of the image, (4) blurring of each depth image, and (5)
composition of the blurred depth images to form a single vision-simulated
image.

VRR provides images and videos of simulated vision to enable a patient's
eye doctor to see the specific visual anomalies of the patient. In
addition to blur, VRR could reveal to the doctor the multiple images or
distortions present in the patient's vision that would not otherwise be
apparent from standard visual acuity measurements. VRR could educate
medical students as well as patients about the particular visual effects
of certain vision disorders (such as keratoconus and monocular diplopia)
by enabling them to view images and videos that are generated using the
optics of various eye conditions. By measuring PRK/LASIK patients pre- and
post-op, VRR could provide doctors with extensive, objective, information
about a patient's vision before and after surgery.  Potential candidates
contemplating surgery could see simulations of their predicted vision and
of various possible visual anomalies that could arise from the surgery,
such as glare at night. The current protocol, where patients sign a
consent form that can be difficult for a layperson to understand fully,
could be supplemented by the viewing of a computer-generated video of
simulated vision showing the possible visual problems that could be
engendered by the surgery.

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Biography:

Brian A. Barsky is Professor of Computer Science and Vision Science, and
Affiliate Professor of Optometry, at the University of California at
Berkeley, USA. He is also a member of the Joint Graduate Group in
Bioengineering, an interdisciplinary and inter-campus program, between UC
Berkeley and UC San Francisco, and a Fellow of the American Academy of
Optometry (F.A.A.O.). Professor Barsky has co-authored technical articles
in the broad areas of computer aided geometric design and modeling,
interactive three-dimensional computer graphics, visualization in
scientific computing, computer aided cornea modeling and visualization,
medical imaging, and virtual environments for surgical simulation. He is
also a co-author of the book /An Introduction to Splines for Use in
Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling/, co-editor of the book /Making
Them Move: Mechanics, Control, and Animation of Articulated Figures/, and
author of the book /Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling Using
Beta-splines/. Professor Barsky also held visiting positions in numerous
universities of European and Asian countries. He is also a speaker at many
international meetings, an editor for technical journal and book series in
computer graphics and geometric modelling, and a recipient of an IBM
Faculty Development Award and a National Science Foundation Presidential
Young Investigator Award. Further information about Professor Barsky can
be found at http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~barsky/biog.html.