Chapter   | 4 |

The human visual system

Robin Jenkin

All images © Robin Jenkin unless indicated.

INTRODUCTION

Vision is perhaps the most remarkable of the senses. The human eye has been likened to a camera in many descriptions and indeed, superficially, this is true. As may be seen in Figure 4.1, it is a light-tight sphere with a lens system positioned with which to focus light on to a photosensitive layer, the retina, located at the back of the eyeball. Beyond this basic description, the structure and operation of the human visual system (HVS) is much more complicated than the most sophisticated cameras available at present. On examination, it may be seen that it is proficient in refined control of focusing, exposure, and white balance, capable ...

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