Computer Vision News - November 2016

Octavia: I think it’s excitement. We like the things that we do, and we always think that we can do more. Then we look on the calendar and say I should have said no to this. Yet it’s such an interesting project, and I want to work on it. Ralph: Sometimes you regret it? Octavia: Of course, but you have to do it, right? Because you made a commitment. When you do it you’re enjoying it too. You need to do a lot of juggling. Ralph: It’s funny because you have done this many times with many projects, and still you say it’s exciting. Are you still as passionate as when you started? Octavia : Yes, even more because if you compare what we were able to do in computer vision when I started as a PhD student and the things that we are doing today, it’s just amazing how much the field has grown. It keeps being exciting. The closer we are to applying things to real life problems and having an impact, it becomes even more exciting. Ralph: That’s extraordinary, because in many jobs you become less and less excited as the years go on. Do you think that things will continue to get better? Octavia: Sure, There are some things that I hope don’t get forgotten through all of this progress. We were talking about how great it is that deep learning is doing so much for the field, but sometimes I worry about the younger generation neglecting the basics of geometry and physics of vision because it’s so exciting to be in this new deep learning movement. Ralph: Of course, because that’s the hype. Octavia: Right, so there are some concerns. Ralph: Hype is attractive. Octavia: Sure, it is attractive and keeps pushing the field. It makes people want to be in the field. “We like the things that we do, and we always think that we can do more” 26 Interview with Octavia Camps BEST OF ECCV