MIT algorithm to eliminate reflections from the photos

Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm that can eliminate glare from the pictures, although there is an initial condition that must be respected, there must be a double reflection, as the one originated from double glazing.

Often shooting from behind glass; be it a window, the porthole of the plane or the bus window: invariably in our picture, you will see not only what is out of the glass, but also the means by which we are framing and the environment around us, especially if very bright. Someone has invented a solution to the problem, but it is not so comfortable to hold photograph mounted on our car at all times and especially not just a smartphone, the means by which the world today several pictures are taken.

MIT researchers have good news about: they have developed an algorithm that can eliminate glare from the pictures, although there is an initial condition that must be respected, there must be a double reflection, as the one originated by a glass thickness or double glazing. If the reflection that ruins the photo is single the algorithm is not able to operate. Instead of having the data available reflex double the operation, though still not easy, you can find a positive outcome.

The algorithm analyzes the image dividing it into blocks of 8×8 pixels and calculating the correlation between each pixel of the block and those of the other blocks thus managing to separate the image of what is beyond the glass by the reflection. At the moment, this is a preliminary algorithm, that in the tests showed good results: if made more robust may find the way of photography, but also help vision systems (such as robots) in presence of surfaces semireflecting.