Often referred to in the same context as "computer vision", machine vision covers the practical vision components which allow automated systems to see parts, products, patterns, codes, or other objects and use that information to make decisions. Machine vision has vastly increased the power and flexibility of industrial automation, with manufactured parts and products able to be inspected, measured and sorted at high speed and high accuracy, improving product quality and reducing waste. Machine vision is now widely used for applications such as high-speed barcode scanning, item recognition and quality inspection of packaging and food items.