Future Computer Vision Engineer, you need to read this

We have seen a lot of doubts on the internet about studying computer vision. In fact, some of our mates admit that before delving into this field, they had quite a few questions.

We don’t want you to have to dive into Quora or Reddit and come out with more questions than when you walked in. For this reason, we have compiled the most recurrent questions that future Computer Vision Engineer have and we have asked them to two TOP experts who have already been there (they have already passed the degree, the master’s degree and the job search).

Just in case, we leave you the basic definition of computer vision, but if you already know what it is, we recommend you go to the interview below, it answers everything and without beating around the bush:

First of all: What is computer vision or computer vision?

Computer vision = artificial vision = computer vision -> these three concepts are synonyms.

Computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence(AI) that allows computers to extract information from images and videos. Based on this information, recommendations can be established and decisions made. 

Artificial intelligence allows computers to think; computer vision allows them to see, observe and understand. 

Computer vision trains machines to differentiate objects, establish distances and movements, distinguish inconsistencies, etc. In this way, they are capable of inspecting, monitoring and, in general, observing products and processes, in which they detect errors, defects or problems (in most cases, imperceptible to the human eye).

What is computer vision for?

Computer vision is a recent technology, in which a large part of its applications remain to be discovered. 

For now, some of the most common applications are:

• Identity verification
• Intrusion detection
• Inspection of manufacturing and shipping processes
• Product tracking
• Flow Analysis
• The autonomous car
  Etc.

Doubts BEFORE studying computer vision

Once we have clarified what this discipline is and what it is for, we move on to the questions that Jesus and Julián would surely have liked to have clarified before studying computer vision:

What is studied in computer vision degrees and masters?

• Jesus: Basically you will study image and video processing techniques in order to extract relevant information. You will also study how current technologies are used to apply computer vision to different sectors and fields.

• Julián: Computer vision attempts to provide computers with the necessary intelligence to understand images, extract information from them and act accordingly. This transversal process covers areas such as the capture of the images themselves, the processing and analysis of the results.

Is it hard to learn computer vision?

• Jesus: No, if you have math, programming, and logic skills.

• Julián: In my opinion nothing is really easy or difficult to learn, it depends a lot on your attitude and your aptitudes. If you are passionate about the world of new technologies, software and artificial intelligence, with minimal skills it is very easy to enter this world. Fortunately, in addition to the training available in conventional educational centers, there is a lot of training available online in the form of courses, books or videos, both free and paid. This greatly facilitates access to knowledge and therefore makes the learning process easier.

What skills are needed to work in computer vision?

• Jesus: Basic computer science and math skills are required. Knowing a programming language helps, since it is the main work tool of a computer vision engineer.

• Julián: First of all, you need a foundation in mathematics and statistics, which is essential to understand the fundamentals of computer vision. On the other hand, it is necessary to be proficient when programming in one of the most used languages, such as Python, C++ or Go. Finally, I would recommend some kind of training or specific knowledge on the most basic computer vision techniques.

Why should I study computer vision?

• Jesus: Because it is an emerging and rapidly developing field. Because many of the latest techniques are based on machine learning and artificial intelligence which are also emerging fields that many companies are starting to adopt.

• Julián: If you are passionate about the world of new technologies, computing, both software and hardware, or artificial intelligence, computer vision is one of the most interesting places to go. The evolution that the sector has undergone in recent years. even decades, it’s impressive. Computer vision is expanding and being successfully applied in areas and sectors that seemed unthinkable recently: autonomous cars, disease detection, citizen security, etc. The possible applications are endless, which is why it is easy to find an area that really motivates us and where we can contribute our knowledge.

How do I get a job in computer vision?

• Jesus: Integrating yourself into the community and carrying out research work that allows us to advance towards the refinement and improvement of technologies and algorithms.

• Julián: To get a job in computer vision you need specific knowledge in the field of image processing. The most common path is to first complete a university degree in the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector to obtain basic and extensive training. Subsequently, specific training can be carried out through a university Master’s degree. But this is not the only way since there is a lot of online training, both free and paid, with which to specialize without the need for official titles.

How to start a career in computer vision?

• Jesus: If you don’t have knowledge in computer science, you can start in studies such as computer engineering, telecommunications, data, artificial intelligence, systems… If you already have this type of knowledge, you can specialize through master’s degrees, courses or self-taught.

• Julián: As in many other sectors, the best way to start a career in computer vision is through an internship. Thanks to the high demand for professionals in this sector, with good training it is relatively easy to get an opportunity. Another quite interesting option is to start collaborating on open source projects, through Github or another similar platform, where you can contribute your grain of sand to the community and gain visibility within it.

What do you like most about this specialization? 

• Jesus: It is a way of learning data engineering techniques, big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence from a vision specialization that is also related to the audiovisual world and our perception of the world thanks to sight.

• Julián: What fascinates me most about this specialization is giving computers the ability to interact with the real world. I think it is something that doesn’t happen in other sectors. You teach them to recognize objects, situations, faces and to act accordingly. Thanks to cameras and sensors, computers learn to relate to the outside world and to perform increasingly complex tasks.

What will my job be like as a computer vision engineer?

• Jesus: It will be a research, experimentation and development of techniques to improve the performance of vision algorithms. This ranges from analyzing the requirements of a certain vision task to the validation and evaluation (quantitative and qualitative) of the developed algorithms themselves, passing through the design of the technology to be used and the collection of the necessary resources.

• Julián: A large part of our work is really based on programming and the analysis of data and results. Current computer vision algorithms need a large amount of data to get good results. For this reason, the part of data collection, processing and analysis is, in my opinion, the most important and where a professional should invest the most time.

Do you see regulated training as essential? / Is Computer vision an engineer made or born? 

• Jesus: Regular training is not essential, as it is not for many of the computer sciences, since all the necessary resources are accessible on the Internet. Even so, regulated training gives you the possibility of being able to rely on professionals who guide you in a field that has many different applications that use different technologies.

• Julián: Perhaps this is one of the sectors where regulated training is less important, the so-called “titulitis”. Obviously it is an excellent way to train as a professional and acquire the necessary knowledge, but companies really value your technical skills more and more and not just your studies. There is a lot of training on the web with which you can learn everything you need to be a great professional and develop your talent.

Anyone can become a computer vision engineer. If someone has the necessary skills to embark on a career in this sector, it is no more difficult than any other. You just need desire and interest, everything else can be learned.

Julián Lamoso, Face Tech Lead at Alice Biometrics

What possibilities does studying computer vision give me? 

• Jesús: It gives you the opportunity to learn first-hand how vision techniques work in different fields and for different purposes and to be able to collaborate in the development of new technologies both for industry as for research.

• Julián: The possibilities offered by this field are enormous. Nowadays, more and more sectors are trying to introduce computer vision in their processes. Robotics, automotive, medicine, security, defense or industry in general are just a few examples. In addition, there is the possibility of dedicating oneself to research more strictly speaking in one of the Spanish universities and combining it with teaching.

We are always open to spontaneous applications. If you would like to work at computer vision,