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Zeichenerkennung durch biologische und technische systeme
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Zeichenerkennung durch biologische und technische Systeme (Pattern Recognition in Biological and Technical Systems) Editors~ O.J. Grtisser und R. Klinke. Springer Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, 1971; 413 pp., 182 figs., US $ 25.70 This book contains the proceedings of a Congress of the German Society for Cybernetics held at the Technical University, Berlin in April 1971. German and English texts alternate in a ratio of about 2 to 3, many summaries regrettably being written in the same language as the corresponding article. The authors of the 36 papers come from widely different fields, and so do the biological and technica[systems investigated. These range from the most primitive creature than can possibly be thought to "recognize" anything at all (R. Jander) to humans submitted to most exacting experiments (A. Hajos), and likewise from rather trite technical suggestions towards a solution of the pattern recognition prob-
245
lem (F. Holderman and H. Kazmierczak) to a sketch of a machine allegedly capable of solving it at least partially, that is for printed numerals (IBM 1275). Generally speaking the book contains a wealth of material about the subject matter indicated in its title, especially with regards to neurophysiology and psychology of perception. Regarding technical systems, the frivolous - and occasionally brazen - claims of former years have given way to prudence. To anybody engaged in the field of Pattern Recognition or its fringes (e.g., Artificial Intelligence) this book allows a reliable assessment of the state of what still must be considered an art. It should also prove invaluable as a source of experimental information to the theoretician, who will therefore not bewail the shortness of its theoretical part, 30 pages written mostly in an philosophical vein, often witty and much to the point (H. Mittelstaedt and D.M. MacKay).
L.G. Preuss
Zeichenerkennung durch biologische und technische Systeme (Pattern Recognition in Biological and Technical Systems) Editors~ O.J. Grtisser und R. Klinke. Springer Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, 1971; 413 pp., 182 figs., US $ 25.70 This book contains the proceedings of a Congress of the German Society for Cybernetics held at the Technical University, Berlin in April 1971. German and English texts alternate in a ratio of about 2 to 3, many summaries regrettably being written in the same language as the corresponding article. The authors of the 36 papers come from widely different fields, and so do the biological and technica[systems investigated. These range from the most primitive creature than can possibly be thought to "recognize" anything at all (R. Jander) to humans submitted to most exacting experiments (A. Hajos), and likewise from rather trite technical suggestions towards a solution of the pattern recognition prob-
245
lem (F. Holderman and H. Kazmierczak) to a sketch of a machine allegedly capable of solving it at least partially, that is for printed numerals (IBM 1275). Generally speaking the book contains a wealth of material about the subject matter indicated in its title, especially with regards to neurophysiology and psychology of perception. Regarding technical systems, the frivolous - and occasionally brazen - claims of former years have given way to prudence. To anybody engaged in the field of Pattern Recognition or its fringes (e.g., Artificial Intelligence) this book allows a reliable assessment of the state of what still must be considered an art. It should also prove invaluable as a source of experimental information to the theoretician, who will therefore not bewail the shortness of its theoretical part, 30 pages written mostly in an philosophical vein, often witty and much to the point (H. Mittelstaedt and D.M. MacKay).
L.G. Preuss