Researchers take the blur out of shaky photos

The above story links to an interesting article where some researchers at MIT and the University of Toronto have developed algorithms to significantly sharpen blurry images, in many cases to a usable state.

It seems like one more step that might make you hesitate before pressing that delete button. In my 35mm film days, it was pretty ruthless editing on the lightbox. If the image wasn’t sharp (that was intended to be) or under/over exposed – into the garbage can it went. Now with advances in digital RAW file converters, we can gain back some of those blown highlights or details in our shadows. It seems it won’t be long before blurry shots may be saved as well. There are even cameras that begin to recognize faces and provide hints on where to place them.
But you have to wonder if technology will turn photographic technique into the ways of simple math.     After all, how many people immediately grab a calculator when faced with a simple addition or multiplication problem.   Why learn to spell when a computer can check all of our spelling?   Hey, why worry about understanding light or using proper lens holding techniques when technology can rescue the image later? We all screw up once in awhile and need that little help afterwards, lets just hope it doesn’t lead to general laziness in the field, and mush in our minds.