Instructors: Brian Wandell, Joyce Farrell and David Cardinal

Psych 221 (previously EE 362) is an introduction to the visual computing specialization. This course explains key concepts in image formation, image capture, and image processing. The course also introduces students to properties of the human visual system that are essential for understanding the design of image systems.

A key aspect of the course is the use of software for image systems simulation (ISETCam). Students are provided with software that simulates 3D image data (ISET3D), optics, and sensors. This software enables experimentation with the image system components (lens, sensor, post-processing). Through these experiments students learn to evaluate how image system components work together to produce image data for consumer photography, virtual and augmented reality, biomedical applications, autonomous driving, and convolutional neural networks.

ISETCam and ISET3D are Matlab toolboxes. To download Matlab (free to Stanford students) follow these instructions.

The lectures cover the ideas that will lead to the students’ course projects. The following topics are introduced:

Principles of optics (Snell's Law, light fields, diffraction, adaptive optics)
Image sensor and pixel designs (CMOS, CCD, pixel electronics)
Color science and color calibration (color matching, CIE XYZ, CIELAB)
Human vision (space, depth, motion)
Image processing (demosaicking, color balance, compression principles)
Image systems simulation for neural network applications
Display technologies (LCD, OLED, CRT, Head-mounted)

Some background in mathematics (linear algebra) and programming (Matlab) are valuable.

Course meeting times
Tue, Thu 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM

This year we will use a mainly flipped model. Students will be able to watch annotated videos prior (and post) the class meeting. For our class these recordings are stored in the Panopto Course Videos Tab; the recordings are organized by topic.

Homework questions will be embedded in the videos; there will be some additional questions each week that are related to the videos and readings.

We will generally record portions of the online meeting so those who cannot join at that time can still see and hear what was discussed. In large part, however, we plan to allocate online class time to helping students with problem solving for the homework and to assist with course projects. This year, with the challenge in getting into the lab, the projects will largely be data analysis and simulation.

Special to Fall 2020 Quarter: Grading and End Quarter Policies

By University policy (https://registrar.stanford.edu/students/definition-grades), all grading can be offered as Cr/NC. Cr is earned for C- work or better. If you prefer to take the course for a regular grade, you may as well.
All coursework is due by the last day of the last week of instruction in each quarter. No coursework deadlines or assessments should be assigned or scheduled after the last day of a quarter. (https://registrar.stanford.edu/coursework-deadline-2020-21).

Location
Online

TA Office Hours
Zheng Lyu
Time: Tue 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Zoom Link: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/93206519363pwd=L0REcEdpdENNdURPN0gxQjY3SVd6dz09&from=msft
Password: 781856

Homework and tests
Weekly homework assignments involving some reading and Matlab
(About 2.5 hours each week. Submitted via Canvas).
Online Mid-term can be completed with any 24 hour period. No final.

Project
Project information

(New Confluence Home for Image System Engineering)

Video recordings - The italicized text below is boiler plate for SCPD courses.

The spirit of the text below is true - we don't intend to post your image or any identifying material from the classroom discussions. I hope you will be OK, however, if you ask a question during the class and the question and answer prove to be good to include and share with others in the class or even future years.

Video cameras located in the back of the room will capture the instructor presentations in this course. For your convenience, you can access these recordings by logging into the course Canvas site. These recordings might be reused in other Stanford courses, viewed by other Stanford students, faculty, or staff, or used for other education and research purposes. Note that while the cameras are positioned with the intention of recording only the instructor, occasionally a part of your image or voice might be incidentally captured. If you have questions, please contact a member of the teaching team.

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