Project description
Colour perception of natural objects
Colour perception is driven by photoreceptors in the eye that get activated by light of different wavelengths. The key objective of the EU-funded Color3.0 project is to revisit colour perception around real world objects, taking into account the dimensional aspects of colour such as intensity, hue and saturation. To understand the mechanism behind colour processing, researchers will investigate the neural circuits implicated in colour perception in real and virtual worlds. Apart from providing fundamental knowledge on the visual system, the project's results will lead to better colour reproduction and lighting systems.
Objective
There have been tremendous advances in color science. The absorption of photons by three types of photoreceptors is known at the molecular genetic level. Human cone fundamentals are tabled to several decimal places and color opponency is understood at the neural and computational level. Yet, all this knowledge is based on extremely restrictive assumptions with a colored light in the dark (Color 1.0) or flat, matte surfaces in a uniformly colored context (Color 2.0). But which mechanisms mediate perception of colors in the real world– when looking at a field of flowers or searching for a certain product in the supermarket?
Arguably, the most important function of color is the processing of information about objects in scenes. It is the tight link to objects through which color helps us see things quicker and remember them better. This proposal, Color 3.0 is based on an active observer dealing with three-dimensional objects in natural environments. It deals with the dimensions relevant for the main purpose of color perception – intensity, hue and saturation. The goal is to fundamentally rethink color science around real world objects and natural tasks.
We will gain a deep understanding of the circuitry underlying color perception in real and virtual worlds, a Deep Neural Network model of color processing that can be traced through the brain, a new colorimetry based on natural object colors rather than flat, matte patches of light, and last but not least a better measure for luminous intensity that can deal with objects of different color. This could lead to a revision of how we study the early visual system, better color reproduction and better lighting systems. Our use of real-time raytracing in VR could cause a paradigm shift in vision science, away from a passively viewing observer pushing buttons, towards an active observer situated in a virtual world and performing a natural task.
Fields of science
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolors
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopyabsorption spectroscopy
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantHost institution
35390 Giessen
Germany