How to start research in computer vision?

To start research in computer vision, begin by building a strong foundation in core concepts and tools. First, learn the fundamentals of image processing, including techniques like edge detection, filtering, and feature extraction. Understand how convolutional neural networks (CNNs) work, as they are the backbone of most modern computer vision systems. Familiarize yourself with libraries such as OpenCV for basic image manipulation and PyTorch or TensorFlow for deep learning. For example, implementing a simple CNN to classify handwritten digits using the MNIST dataset is a practical starting point. This helps you grasp how data is structured, how models are trained, and how to evaluate performance metrics like accuracy.

Next, focus on experimenting with real-world projects and datasets. Start with small, well-defined problems to build confidence. Use publicly available datasets like CIFAR-10 for object recognition or COCO for object detection. Reproduce existing research papers or tutorials to see how theoretical concepts translate into code. For instance, try replicating a classic architecture like ResNet or a modern model like YOLO (You Only Look Once) for object detection. Pay attention to data preprocessing steps, such as normalization and augmentation, which are critical for model performance. Tools like Jupyter Notebooks or Google Colab can simplify experimentation by providing accessible environments for prototyping.

Finally, engage with the research community and stay updated on advancements. Read papers from conferences like CVPR, ICCV, or ECCV to identify current trends and open problems. Join forums like Reddit’s r/computervision or attend workshops to discuss ideas with peers. Contribute to open-source projects on GitHub, such as Detectron2 or MMDetection, to gain hands-on experience with production-grade code. Participate in Kaggle competitions to test your skills against real-world challenges, such as medical image segmentation or autonomous vehicle perception. Research in computer vision is iterative—start small, validate your ideas rigorously, and gradually tackle more complex problems as you build expertise.