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Pattern recognition theory and application
416
Book Reviews
those proposing new conceptual frames for image description, which have not been implemented satisfactorily for practical purposes until now.
"Pattern Recognition Theory and Application", Proc. NATO ASI Oxford 1981. Edited by J. Kittler, K. S. Fu, L. F. Pau. D. Reidel Pub. Comp., Dordrecht, Holland 1982. Reviewed by: Prof. H. Niemann, Lehrstuhl fiir
lnformatik 5, University of Erlangen-Niirnberg, FRG The above book is organized into four main sections plus one additional section summarizing a panel discussion on Decision Theoretic Methods. The main sections concern the topics Pattern Recognition Methodology (14 papers, 199 pages), Image Understanding and Interpretation (6 papers, 166 pages), Medical Applications (7 papers, 113 pages), Speech Processing and Other Applications (5 papers, 76 pages). In total, the book contains 32 papers and 576 numbered pages. It seems inappropriate to give a review of each paper because this would result in 32 "minireviews"; therefore, we try to give some general impressions. The first section (Pattern Recognition Methodology) starts with an excellent but extremely concise overview on advances in nonparametric techniques in pattern recognition which really covers the field and leads the reader to the most recent references. Another review paper on syntactic methods in pattern recognition concentrates on Syntax--directed translations and gives a thorough overview of the field. A third review paper treats some recent algorithms for solving geometric problems in pattern recognition, for example, computation of convex hull, the Voronoi diagram (here the reader is referred to a reference), or the distance between sets. The problem of combining the decision theoretic and syntactic approach is treated in two papers. Some of the other papers give extensions and generalizations Signal Processing
of existidg results. In general, this section is highly theoretical, as may be expected from the topic. In this section the reader finds a wealth of material, results, and references and most authors try to not only present an equation, algorithm, or theorem, but also to give some kind of evaluation and comparison. Since the evaluation of new or modified approaches usually is on artificial data it still is up to the user to explore the power of these methods when processing blood cells, phonemes, textures, characters, and so on. In total, this section gives a very good treatment of recent achievements, assuming that the reader is familiar with the older achievements. The second section (Image Understanding and Interpretation) starts with two review papers, of which the first one gives a broad account of recent achievements in image understanding concentrating on the low level processing like edge detection, surface shape from shading and" texture, or binocular stereopsis. Here the reader will find a thorough introduction to basic concepts and equations and extensive references for further reading. The other review paper gives a short summary of the DARPA image understanding program. Additional papers treat three-dimensional object representations, interpretation of line drawings, and time varying images. In the third and fourth sections (Medical Applications as well as Speech Processing And Other Applications) the reader will find a series of research papers on various topics, for example, chromosome analysis, diagnostic inferences, ECG analysis, speech understanding, and reading machine for the blind. Many papers in Sections 2-4 demonstrate the importance of knowledge representation and utilization, of expert system techniques, and of artificial intelligence approaches in the general area of pattern recognition (that is, pattern recognition understood as interpretation of sensory signals). These topics are still active areas of research and here the book gives important contributions. The review papers have definite tutorial value and the other papers provide interesting and significant
Book Reviews
accounts of specialized techniques and results. Of course, the reader has to be prepared to deal with individual terminology and notation in many papers. The organization into sections is wellplanned and helpful. In summary, the book gives a very thorough account on a large variety of current research topics and results in the field.
Optique et t~l~communications (Transmission et traitement optiques de l'information)", by A. Cozannet, J. Fleuret, H. Maitre and M. Rousseau. Reviewed by: Rend Diindliker, Institut de Micro-
technique de l'Universitd, CH-2000 Neuch8tel, Switzerland. The book is written in French. It responds to a real need for a good and comprehensive French textbook in the field of modern optics, with special emphasis on guided wave optics and fiber optic communication. It is of high tutorial and pedagogical value; in fact 1 do recommend it already since three years to my French speaking students in engineering and applied physics, who follow my courses in applied optics at University level. The first four chapters (1-4) give an introduction to modern optics. Starting with Maxwell's equations, all relevant relations for light propagation in free space, in dispersive media, in waveguides, as Gaussian beams and by diffraction are discussed. The next three chapters (5-7) deal with holography and optical image processing by coherent and incoherent filtering. Although these topics are condensed to only 90 pages of text and figures,
417
they are presented sufficiently clear and complete to provide access to the specialized literature quoted. The following four chapters (8-11) are devoted to fiber optics, including the theoretical background of multi-mode and single-mode fibers, measurement techniques for the characteristic parameters, methods of fabrication, and fiber optical cables and connectors. The three chapters (12-14) on lasers, photodetectors and optical modulators, including an introduction to integrated optics, are condensed (70 pages only) to the necessary minimum for the understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of fiber optical communications, treated in the next four chapters (15-18). On 90 pages of text and figures, the problems and the state of the art of digital and analog transmission, multiplexing and layout of fiber optical networks are described in a competent manner. The last chapter (19) is an outlook to future possibilities for optical and hybrid optic-electronical information processing and optical computers. The book is completed by an annex of some special theoretical topics, a list of 368 references, mainly from international journals, and a subject index, obviously in French. Although some basic concepts, such as diffusely scattered light and speckles, coupled wave theory for thick holograms and wave-guides, or integrated optical devices, are not or scarcely treated, the book can be strongly recommended to students and engineers as an introduction to and an overview over the fascinating field of optical signal processing and transmission.
Vol, 7. No 4, December 1984
Book Reviews
those proposing new conceptual frames for image description, which have not been implemented satisfactorily for practical purposes until now.
"Pattern Recognition Theory and Application", Proc. NATO ASI Oxford 1981. Edited by J. Kittler, K. S. Fu, L. F. Pau. D. Reidel Pub. Comp., Dordrecht, Holland 1982. Reviewed by: Prof. H. Niemann, Lehrstuhl fiir
lnformatik 5, University of Erlangen-Niirnberg, FRG The above book is organized into four main sections plus one additional section summarizing a panel discussion on Decision Theoretic Methods. The main sections concern the topics Pattern Recognition Methodology (14 papers, 199 pages), Image Understanding and Interpretation (6 papers, 166 pages), Medical Applications (7 papers, 113 pages), Speech Processing and Other Applications (5 papers, 76 pages). In total, the book contains 32 papers and 576 numbered pages. It seems inappropriate to give a review of each paper because this would result in 32 "minireviews"; therefore, we try to give some general impressions. The first section (Pattern Recognition Methodology) starts with an excellent but extremely concise overview on advances in nonparametric techniques in pattern recognition which really covers the field and leads the reader to the most recent references. Another review paper on syntactic methods in pattern recognition concentrates on Syntax--directed translations and gives a thorough overview of the field. A third review paper treats some recent algorithms for solving geometric problems in pattern recognition, for example, computation of convex hull, the Voronoi diagram (here the reader is referred to a reference), or the distance between sets. The problem of combining the decision theoretic and syntactic approach is treated in two papers. Some of the other papers give extensions and generalizations Signal Processing
of existidg results. In general, this section is highly theoretical, as may be expected from the topic. In this section the reader finds a wealth of material, results, and references and most authors try to not only present an equation, algorithm, or theorem, but also to give some kind of evaluation and comparison. Since the evaluation of new or modified approaches usually is on artificial data it still is up to the user to explore the power of these methods when processing blood cells, phonemes, textures, characters, and so on. In total, this section gives a very good treatment of recent achievements, assuming that the reader is familiar with the older achievements. The second section (Image Understanding and Interpretation) starts with two review papers, of which the first one gives a broad account of recent achievements in image understanding concentrating on the low level processing like edge detection, surface shape from shading and" texture, or binocular stereopsis. Here the reader will find a thorough introduction to basic concepts and equations and extensive references for further reading. The other review paper gives a short summary of the DARPA image understanding program. Additional papers treat three-dimensional object representations, interpretation of line drawings, and time varying images. In the third and fourth sections (Medical Applications as well as Speech Processing And Other Applications) the reader will find a series of research papers on various topics, for example, chromosome analysis, diagnostic inferences, ECG analysis, speech understanding, and reading machine for the blind. Many papers in Sections 2-4 demonstrate the importance of knowledge representation and utilization, of expert system techniques, and of artificial intelligence approaches in the general area of pattern recognition (that is, pattern recognition understood as interpretation of sensory signals). These topics are still active areas of research and here the book gives important contributions. The review papers have definite tutorial value and the other papers provide interesting and significant
Book Reviews
accounts of specialized techniques and results. Of course, the reader has to be prepared to deal with individual terminology and notation in many papers. The organization into sections is wellplanned and helpful. In summary, the book gives a very thorough account on a large variety of current research topics and results in the field.
Optique et t~l~communications (Transmission et traitement optiques de l'information)", by A. Cozannet, J. Fleuret, H. Maitre and M. Rousseau. Reviewed by: Rend Diindliker, Institut de Micro-
technique de l'Universitd, CH-2000 Neuch8tel, Switzerland. The book is written in French. It responds to a real need for a good and comprehensive French textbook in the field of modern optics, with special emphasis on guided wave optics and fiber optic communication. It is of high tutorial and pedagogical value; in fact 1 do recommend it already since three years to my French speaking students in engineering and applied physics, who follow my courses in applied optics at University level. The first four chapters (1-4) give an introduction to modern optics. Starting with Maxwell's equations, all relevant relations for light propagation in free space, in dispersive media, in waveguides, as Gaussian beams and by diffraction are discussed. The next three chapters (5-7) deal with holography and optical image processing by coherent and incoherent filtering. Although these topics are condensed to only 90 pages of text and figures,
417
they are presented sufficiently clear and complete to provide access to the specialized literature quoted. The following four chapters (8-11) are devoted to fiber optics, including the theoretical background of multi-mode and single-mode fibers, measurement techniques for the characteristic parameters, methods of fabrication, and fiber optical cables and connectors. The three chapters (12-14) on lasers, photodetectors and optical modulators, including an introduction to integrated optics, are condensed (70 pages only) to the necessary minimum for the understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of fiber optical communications, treated in the next four chapters (15-18). On 90 pages of text and figures, the problems and the state of the art of digital and analog transmission, multiplexing and layout of fiber optical networks are described in a competent manner. The last chapter (19) is an outlook to future possibilities for optical and hybrid optic-electronical information processing and optical computers. The book is completed by an annex of some special theoretical topics, a list of 368 references, mainly from international journals, and a subject index, obviously in French. Although some basic concepts, such as diffusely scattered light and speckles, coupled wave theory for thick holograms and wave-guides, or integrated optical devices, are not or scarcely treated, the book can be strongly recommended to students and engineers as an introduction to and an overview over the fascinating field of optical signal processing and transmission.
Vol, 7. No 4, December 1984