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Vision Science OpenCourseWare: A Free Graduate Level Course by MIT on Vision Science

Published Jan 27, 2009

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To study how people visually experience different objects, students should take MIT's free OpenCourseWare science class 'Special Topics in Vision Science.' Students should have had previous coursework in cognitive science for this graduate level course.

Special Topics in Vision Science: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Graduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
No Yes No

Special Topics in Vision Science: Course Description

The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT in Cambridge, MA, offers OpenCourseWare that studies perceptions of objects and materials. The course compares human perception to computer perception. For example, while humans perceive their surroundings through such indicators as color and texture, machines perceive objects through reflectance and texture analysis. The course looks at how both the human brain and computer analysis perceive objects based upon motion and contour. Using examples, such as skin, hair and food, the course also covers the physics of perception, for example how the reflection of light and the formation of the physical surface define the perception of an object. Course readings include the most current literature on vision science, exposing students to the latest research. Because of the constant addition of new research to the field, this course changes every semester to take advantage of the newest theories of perception. Science professor Dr. Edward Adelson teaches this course.

This OpenCourseWare includes a syllabus, required readings list, study questions and external links. Those interested in this free course should visit the Special Topics in Vision Science course page.

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