Can someone explain to me in simple terms what a CV suggestion is? I’ve seen a lot of talk about how bad they are and also a lot of complicated words, thanks!
When you make an observation, iNaturalist automatically provides computer generated ID-suggestions. The technology behind this is called “computer vision”, CV for short.
Computer Vision suggestions are not bad by themselves, but many people (especially new users) just blindly agree with what computer vision suggests. As not all species are included in the computer vision, this may often lead to over-confident IDs.
This causes two problems, mainly:
For one, if another user comes in and just blindly agrees with the ID made from the CV-suggestion, the observation reaches Research-Grade. This may cause faulty data.
For another, correcting these IDs means more work for identifiers (especially if the user doesn’t withdraw their ID) and identifiers are already stretched thin.
P.S.: You can recognise CV-based identifications (see clarification in the comment by grampianshiker directly below this one) by this symbol on the ID:
(at least on the website and the new iOS iNaturalist app)
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Though it’s worth bearing in mind that people may click on what they know to be a correct CV suggestion in preference to typing out the same thing, so it’s not always fair to call it a ‘CV-based’ ID.
Personally, with plants I generally use the correct CV suggestion if available to save on typing (yep, lazy - and not always good with spelling names!). With animals of various sorts, where I have no idea, I tend to select the ‘we’re pretty sure this is X’ if provided (withdrawing if someone corrects that ID), and stick with my own (very) high-level ID if it only comes up with species-level suggestions.
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Yes, definitely. I did it in the example-pic that I showed as well and do so regularly.
Computer vision is amazingly helpful and there is no reason not to use it, as long as you can independently give reasons for your ID (aside from “CV suggested it”).
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So those suggestions it’s showing are from the CV and are what are referred to as ‘CV suggestions’. You can either select one of them or (I assume) start typing yourself and it will list possible IDs with those letters/words in them.*
*I’ve never actually used the app, so I’m just assuming it works in much the same way…
Thanks! I understand now
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Since your (CV assisted) ID carries your name. Not - CV suggests …
It is up to you to first decide if it does look like that, is that what you would call it?
Second is it found nearby - or has CV suggested, yes a look alike, but from far away?
(No news is good news. We come here to complain ((constructively)) You won’t often read - oh wow, CV was right, again. It is as useful, in a different way, as the row of field guides you don’t have. Another tool in your kit - then the actual choice of ID is ultimately yours.
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So right! I’ll take this as a reminder to say the CV has recently learned a couple of local Grampians species and I’m loving seeing them being pretty consistently correctly suggested. Thanks, people behind the CV! :-)
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