A perceptual system is a computational system (biological or artificial) designed to make inferences about properties of a physical environment based on scenes. Other definitions may exist.
In this context, a scene is defined as sensory information that can flow from a physical environment into a computational system via sensory transduction. A sensory organ (biological or artificial) is used to capture this information. Therefore, a perceptual system must incorporate input from at least one sensory organ.
Examples of perceptual systems include:
- The visual system
- The auditory system
- The olfactory system
- The somatosensory system
- A bat's sonar/echolocation system
- A man-made light meter
- A man-made motion detector
Research in the field of perceptual systems focuses on computational aspects of perception. For this reason, there is significant overlap with neuroscience, sensor design, natural scene statistics,[1][2] and computer science.
- ^ Lewicki, Michael S. (2002), Efficient coding of natural sounds. Nature Neuroscience 5(4):356-363. PDF
- ^ Geisler, Wilson S. (2008). "Visual Perception and the Statistical Properties of Natural Scenes" (PDF). Annual Review of Psychology. 59: 167–192. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085632. PMID 17705683.