Even Closer to the Human Eye

First, a brief explanation on the mechanism of the human eye. What is seen (light) is adjusted by the iris and collected into the retina through the lens. Focus is enabled by changing the refractive index by making the lens thicker or thinner. Composed of photoreceptor cells, the retina, discern color and contrast as it generates electrical signals according to the strength of the light received. The process of transmitting electrical signals from photoreceptor cells to ganglion cells consists of them to be converted into a frequency modulation that is not easily affected by noise. Data are then delivered to the brain's visual cortex by way of the optic nerves.

In this way, the mechanisms of the human eye and the digital camera are very similar. The iris corresponds to the aperture, the lens of the eye to the camera lens, the retina to the CCD, and the visual cortex of the brain to the photo engine. However, no matter how high the performance of a digital camera may become, it is unlikely to surpass the delicacy and the complexity of the interaction the human eye has with the brain. In fact, this mechanism has not been fully clarified yet. The digital camera will sure to continue to evolve as we keep learning about how the human eye works.