Page 2: Identifying trends and looking toward the future of vision

Editor's note: This article is continued from page one.

Looking toward the future

This year, as many will now by now, Vision Systems Design is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a magazine and website covering the machine vision and imaging industry. As part of this celebration, I’ve asked a number of industry veterans to make predictions on where the industry could be in 20 years’ time. Once again, this resulted in a number of varying, but interesting responses.

FRAMOS’ Sebastien Dignard’s answer came from a market focus perspective.

"The industry is starting to get a lot of attention from large markets and players," he said. "Big corporations will transform the industry. Because of this, we could see some significant market consolidation."

He added, "Think of companies like Facebook who have started working with industry leaders such as Point Grey or industry segments such as autonomous vehicles that are just now starting to scratch the surface."

Eric Ramsden provided a few general thoughts, while commented on some new technologies that may begin to converge.

"Smart cameras of the future will be cheaper. Sensors will be so good that we won’t need as many as we have now," he said. "New technology will also become more user-friendly, and technologies will begin to converge. This includes things like LIDAR, Time of Flight, and so on. “These may be lumped together into more inclusive products."

When Jim Blasius was asked to look toward possible future developments in vision, he noted the proliferation of camera technologies into everyday life, and where this could go next.

"Camera technologies and capabilities are prolific, and this can be seen by the technology making its way into things like facial recognition devices and vehicles," he said.

Then, he rhetorically asked, "Could cameras be sewn into clothing or apparel for personal security?" He suggested that such cameras could provide images to the cloud in real time, while providing data on locations, which would provide safety for the person wearing the device.

"I would pay for a service where I was monitored and taken care of in sucha way," he noted.

Paul Saunders’ answer was optimistic and straight-forward.

"It will be a whole lot easier to develop and deploy a vision application. A lot of 'handcrafting' will go away, and it will be that much easier. And when it becomes easier, then people will become a lot more creative."

Vasant Desai, on the other hand, provided an answer that was a lot more philosophical in nature.

"Look back 20 years and think about where we were," he said. "Think about what you were doing at age 10. Where you being taught everything you need to know for today’s world? Could you foresee today?"

Furthermore, he noted, you can’t restrict yourself to just looking at vision.

"What about technologies like wireless communications, deep learning, 3D, VR, computers with more brain power than humans at prices lower than $1,000?" he asked, noting that technology on the whole will be drastically different.

Areas of potential advancement Desai identified include dself-learning software (and self-learning software for big data), DARPA research for such things as moving artificial limbs, biometrics, 3D, holographic technologies, autonomous vehicles, and more.

"Humans and machines will be much more collaborative, and in an unbelievable manner," he said.

Dipesh Mukerji got rather specific in his answer, noting that Made in China 2025 (MiC2025) is at the top of his company’s list. MiC2025 is a government-based initiative to comprehensively upgrade Chinese industry that draws inspiration from Germany’s Industry 4.0 plan.

“Made in China 2025 is set to promote breakthroughs in 10 key industries where China wants to be a leader in the future, including information technology, robotics, aerospace, railways, and electric vehicles,
he said. “To achieve this, Beijing plans, among other things, to continue a trend of state-directed innovation, proposing to establish 15 manufacturing innovation centers by 2020, which would be expanded to 40 by 2025.”

Jeff Burnstein offered an opinion filled with optimism of where the industry could be headed in the future.

"Vision is becoming more omnipresent in cars, drones, cell phones, and more," he said. "The explosion of places where you could put a camera is almost unimaginable."

A number of these same questions will be posed to leading companies at this year’s VISION show from November 8-10. Keep an eye out for articles based on these conversations.

View more information on VISION 2016.

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