Takeo Kanade, a 78-year-old from Japan, has dedicated over 40 years to artificial vision, a scientific discipline that allows us to see the world from different perspectives. His work has contributed to advancements in robotic surgery, autonomous driving, and facial recognition, and he has been recognized with the Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Information and Communication Technologies category by the BBVA Foundation.
Kanade received his doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Kyoto University in 1974. His passion for engineering was discovered at the age of 5 when he went fishing and made his own hook. He is currently a professor of Computer Science and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA, where he founded the Technology Center for Quality of Life.
In a recent interview, Kanade discussed the future of robotic vision and its potential to surpass human capabilities in certain areas. While he predicted that driving may become fully autonomous within the next decade, he emphasized that human intuition and understanding still play a crucial role in avoiding accidents. Kanade also highlighted the challenges and opportunities in the field of artificial vision, such as virtualized reality and the prevention of malicious use of deepfakes.
When asked about improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, Kanade emphasized the importance of developing technology that increases independence and complements human capabilities rather than replacing them entirely. He also discussed how his work has contributed to surgical precision, enabling robot surgeons to use advanced sensors for tasks such as tumor detection and image-guided surgery.
Despite his contributions to artificial vision technology, Kanade stressed the importance of ethical considerations and integrity in its use. He acknowledged the potential risks associated with deepfakes and emphasized the need for vigilance and awareness to prevent their malicious use. Kanade’s work has paved the way for innovative applications of computer vision technology that have the potential to improve lives and advance our understanding of
