Image Segmentation using Human Visual System Properties with Applications in Image Compression

In order to represent a digital image, a very large number of bits is required. For example, a 512 X 512 pixel, 256 gray level image requires over two million bits. This large number of bits is a substantial drawback when it is necessary to store or transmit a digital image. Image compression, often referred to as image coding, attempts to reduce the number of bits used to represent an image, while keeping the degradation in the decoded image to a minimum. One approach to image compression is segmentation-based image compression. The image to be compressed is segmented, i.e. the pixels in the image are divided into mutually exclusive spatial regions based on some criteria. Once the image has been segmented, information is extracted describing the shapes and interiors of the image segments. Compression is achieved by efficiently representing the image segments. In this thesis we propose an image segmentation technique which is based on centroid-linkage region growing, and takes advantage of human visual system (HVS) properties. We systematically determine through subjective experiments the parameters for our segmentation algorithm which produce the most visually pleasing segmented images, and demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. We also propose a method for the quantization of segmented images based on HVS contrast sensitivity, arid investigate the effect of quantization on segmented images

Panel Discussion on the History of the Women in Engineering Division: Reflections From Past Chairs of the Division

In celebration of 125 years of the American Society of Engineering Education, past Chairs of the Women in Engineering Division (WIED), Beth Holloway, Donna Llewellyn, Sarah Rajala, and Noel Schulz convened in a focused panel that looked back through the division’s history. To help archive the historical perspective of these leaders, this paper was developed to help the former Chairs focus their perspectives with guiding questions. One additional chair, who could not attend the conference, Donna Reese participated in this paper. The guiding questions for chairs concerned: the influence of their leadership of the WIED on their career, their perspective on the climate for women, the main issues the division faced when they were chair, and what research questions people should be asking now

Visual communications and image processing '98 /

28-30 January 1998, San Jose, CaliforniaPt.