Irwin Sobel is an American mathematician and computer scientist known for his contributions to image processing and computer vision. He is best recognized for developing the Sobel operator, a widely used technique for edge detection in images. This operator helps in identifying the boundaries of objects within a picture by highlighting areas of high intensity change. In addition to his work on the Sobel operator, Sobel has contributed to various fields, including signal processing and machine learning. His research has had a significant impact on how computers interpret visual information, influencing advancements in technologies such as facial recognition and autonomous vehicles.