Geisler Wilson S
Center for Perceptual Systems and Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, United States.
Vision Res. 2011 Apr 13;51(7):771-81. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2010.09.027. Epub 2010 Nov 9.
An ideal observer is a hypothetical device that performs optimally in a perceptual task given the available information. The theory of ideal observers has proven to be a powerful and useful tool in vision research, which has been applied to a wide range of problems. Here I first summarize the basic concepts and logic of ideal observer analysis and then briefly describe applications in a number of different areas, including pattern detection, discrimination and estimation, perceptual grouping, shape, depth and motion perception and visual attention, with an emphasis on recent applications. Given recent advances in mathematical statistics, in computational power, and in techniques for measuring behavioral performance, neural activity and natural scene statistics, it seems certain that ideal observer theory will play an ever increasing role in basic and applied areas of vision science.
理想观察者是一种假设的装置，在给定可用信息的情况下，能在感知任务中实现最优表现。理想观察者理论已被证明是视觉研究中一种强大且有用的工具，已应用于广泛的问题。在此，我首先总结理想观察者分析的基本概念和逻辑，然后简要描述其在多个不同领域的应用，包括模式检测、辨别与估计、感知分组、形状、深度和运动感知以及视觉注意，重点介绍近期的应用。鉴于数理统计学、计算能力以及测量行为表现、神经活动和自然场景统计的技术方面的最新进展，理想观察者理论似乎肯定会在视觉科学的基础和应用领域发挥越来越重要的作用。
