James Ferwerda Headshot

James Ferwerda

Associate Professor

Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
College of Science

Office Location

James Ferwerda

Associate Professor

Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
College of Science

Education

BA, MS, Ph.D., Cornell University

Bio

James A. Ferwerda is an Associate Professor in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He received a B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Computer Graphics, and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, all from Cornell University. The focus of his research is on building computational models of human vision from psychophysical experiments, and developing advanced imaging systems based on these models. He is an Associate Editor of the ACM Transactions on Applied Perception and the Journal of Perceptual Imaging, and serves on the Program Committee of the IS&T Human Vision and Electronic Imaging conference.


Areas of Expertise

Currently Teaching

IMGS-181
3 Credits
Freshman Imaging Project I is the first of a two-course sequence. Through the exploration of concepts in physics, mathematics, and computer science, students will experience the creation of a system to address a contemporary technological need through the application of the principles of the scientific method. With the help of faculty and staff from different departments across campus, as well as external experts, students will plan and organize the effort, review current literature applicable to the posed technical challenge, apply hypotheses to address presented scientific questions, conduct experiments to assess technology options, integrate components to create a prototype, and confirm that the prototype and methods meet desired levels of performance. The students will develop a working knowledge of the scientific method and an appreciation for the value of teamwork in technical disciplines, develop the skills required to execute a large project, and increase proficiency in oral and written technical communication.
IMGS-182
3 Credits
Freshman Imaging Project II is the second of a two-course sequence aimed at designing, developing, and building a functional imaging system that will be useful to a “real world” external constituency to achieve its technical goals. With help from faculty and staff from imaging science and other departments across campus, the unified team of students will plan and organize the effort, assess technology options, integrate components, and confirm that the system meets desired levels of performance. Students will develop a general understanding of the foundational concepts of imaging science, a working knowledge of the principles of systems engineering, an appreciation for the value of teamwork in technical disciplines, and practice oral and written technical communication. In this second course of the sequence, students proceed with construction and testing of their system that was designed in COS-IMGS-181.
IMGS-221
3 Credits
This course presents an overview of the organization and function of the human visual system and some of the psychophysical techniques used to study visual perception.
IMGS-351
4 Credits
This course will introduce students to the field of Color Science. Students will learn about the physical sources of color, the visual mechanisms that provide our experience of color, and the descriptive systems that have been developed for relating the physical and visual properties. Through hands-on projects, students will learn practical methods for measuring, modeling, and controlling color in digital imaging systems.
IMGS-502
3 Credits
Part of this course is designed to develop skills in technical communication and scientific research practices. Each student is required to research, write, and present a proposal for an independent research project. Students initiate the research project defined in the proposal developed in the course. The project is supervised by a faculty member in imaging science and is expected to require 9-12 hours per week.
IMGS-503
3 Credits
Students perform the independent research project under the advising of a faculty member in imaging science. The research effort is expected to require 9-12 hours per week. The research outcomes are presented in written and oral form.
IMGS-599
1 - 4 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed tutorial of appropriate topics that are not part of the formal curriculum. The level of study is appropriate for student in any of their years of study.
IMGS-622
1 Credits
This seminar course provides a forum in which students, faculty, and researchers with an interest in the Vision Sciences (visual neuroscience, perception psychology, computational vision, computer graphics) can interact through reading, presentation, and discussion of classic texts and contemporary research papers in the field. Students will read and summarize weekly readings in writing and will periodically prepare presentations and lead discussions.
IMGS-890
1 - 6 Credits
Doctoral-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
IMGS-891
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis

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