Humans perceive the three-dimensional structure of the world with apparent ease. However, despite all of the recent advances in computer vision research, the dream of having a computer interpret an image at the same level as a two-year old remains elusive. Why is computer vision such a challenging problem and what is the current state of the art? Computer Vision: Algorithms and Applications explores the variety of techniques commonly used to analyze and interpret images. It also describes challenging real-world applications where vision is being successfully used, both for specialized applications such as medical imaging, and for fun, consumer-level tasks such as image editing and stitching, which students can apply to their own personal photos and videos. More than just a source of recipes, this exceptionally authoritative and comprehensive textbook/reference also takes a scientific approach to basic vision problems, formulating physical models of the imaging process before inverting them to produce descriptions of a scene. These problems are also analyzed using statistical models and solved using rigorous engineering techniques Topics and features: structured to support active curricula and project-oriented courses, with tips in the Introduction for using the book in a variety of customized courses; presents exercises at the end of each chapter with a heavy emphasis on testing algorithms and containing numerous suggestions for small mid-term projects; provides additional material and more detailed mathematical topics in the Appendices, which cover linear algebra, numerical techniques, and Bayesian estimation theory; suggests additional reading at the end of each chapter, including the latest research in each sub-field, in addition to a full Bibliography at the end of the book; supplies supplementary course material for students at the associated website, http://szeliski.org/Book/. Suitable for an upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level course in computer science or engineering, this textbook focuses on basic techniques that work under real-world conditions and encourages students to push their creative boundaries. Its design and exposition also make it eminently suitable as a unique reference to the fundamental techniques and current research literature in computer vision.

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Computer Vision: Algorithms and Applications

In 1997, Azuma published a survey on augmented reality (AR). Our goal is to complement, rather than replace, the original survey by presenting representative examples of the new advances. We refer one to the original survey for descriptions of potential applications (such as medical visualization, maintenance and repair of complex equipment, annotation, and path planning); summaries of AR system characteristics (such as the advantages and disadvantages of optical and video approaches to blending virtual and real, problems in display focus and contrast, and system portability); and an introduction to the crucial problem of registration, including sources of registration error and error-reduction strategies.

https://www.cc.gatech.edu/~blair/papers/ARsurveyCGA.pdf

Recent advances in augmented reality

Many current neurophysiological, psychophysical, and psychological approaches to vision rest on the idea that when we see, the brain produces an internal representation of the world. The activation of this internal representation is assumed to give rise to the experience of seeing. The problem with this kind of approach is that it leaves unexplained how the existence of such a detailed internal representation might produce visual consciousness. An alternative proposal is made here. We propose that seeing is a way of acting. It is a particular way of exploring the environment. Activity in internal representations does not generate the experience of seeing. The outside world serves as its own, external, representation. The experience of seeing occurs when the organism masters what we call the governing laws of sensorimotor contingency. The advantage of this approach is that it provides a natural and principled way of accounting for visual consciousness, and for the differences in the perceived quality of sensory experience in the different sensory modalities. Several lines of empirical evidence are brought forward in support of the theory, in particular: evidence from experiments in sensorimotor adaptation, visual \"filling in,\" visual stability despite eye movements, change blindness, sensory substitution, and color perception.

A sensorimotor account of vision and visual consciousness-Authors' Response-Acting out our sensory experience

This ebook is the first authorized digital version of Kernighan and Ritchie's 1988 classic, The C Programming Language (2nd Ed.). One of the best-selling programming books published in the last fifty years, "K&R" has been called everything from the "bible" to "a landmark in computer science" and it has influenced generations of programmers. Available now for all leading ebook platforms, this concise and beautifully written text is a "must-have" reference for every serious programmers digital library.

As modestly described by the authors in the Preface to the First Edition, this "is not an introductory programming manual; it assumes some familiarity with basic programming concepts like variables, assignment statements, loops, and functions. Nonetheless, a novice programmer should be able to read along and pick up the language, although access to a more knowledgeable colleague will help."

The C programming language

Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Methods and Systems for Content Processing

cially available affordable wearable computers and head-mounted displays (HMDs), it is possible to develop augmented reality entertainment applications suitable for an outdoor environment. We extended an existing desktop game and developed it into the ARQuake system [4], one of the first systems that allows users to play augmented reality games outdoors—allowing them to move in the physical world, and at the same time experience computer-generated graphical monsters and objects. The game we extended was Quake from id Software (see www.idsoftware.com), a firstperson-perspective, shoot-em-up game initially released in 1996. In Quake, the player runs around a virtual world, shooting at monsters, collecting objects, and completing objectives. The game is desktop-based, with the user interacting with it using a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Although the game is relatively old, the graphics engine is very powerful and runs on a wide range of computing hardware. Recently, id Software released the source code for Quake, making it possible for enthusiasts and researchers to modify the game for their own purposes. Augmented reality (AR) is the process of overlaying and aligning computer-generated images over a user’s view of the physical world. Using a transparent HMD placed on the user’s head, an internal half-silvered mirror combines images from an LCD display with the user’s vision of the world (see Figure 1). By combining this display technology with a wearable computer, it is possible for the user to walk outdoors and visualize graphical objects that are not normally visible. A comprehensive survey article [1] discusses most aspects of this research area. Wayne Piekarski and Bruce Thomas

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ARQuake: the outdoor augmented reality gaming system

The management of burn injuries is reported as painful, distressing and a cause of anxiety in children and their parents Child's and parents' pain and anxiety, often contributes to extended time required for burns management procedures, in particular the process of changing dressings The traditional method of pharmacologic analgesia is often insufficient to cover the burnt child's pain, and it can have deleterious side effects [1, 2] Intervention with Virtual Reality (VR) games is based on distraction or interruption in the way current thoughts, including pain, are processed by the brain Research on adults supports the hypothesis that virtual reality has a positive influence on burns pain modulation This study investigates whether playing a virtual reality game, decreases procedural pain in children aged 5–18 years with acute burn injuries The paper reports on the findings of a pilot study, a randomised trial, in which seven children acted as their own controls though a series of 11 trials Outcomes were pain measured using the self-report Faces Scale and findings of interviews with parent/carer and nurses The average pain scores (from the Faces Scale) for pharmacological analgesia only was, 41 (SD 29), while VR coupled with pharmacological analgesia, the average pain score was 13 (SD 18) The study provides strong evidence supporting VR based games in providing analgesia with minimal side effects and little impact on the physical hospital environment, as well as its reusability and versatility, suggesting another option in the management of children's acute pain

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The efficacy of playing a virtual reality game in modulating pain for children with acute burn injuries: A randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN87413556]

This paper presents an outdoor/indoor augmented reality first person application ARQuake we have developed. ARQuake is an extension of the desktop game Quake, and as such we are investigating how to convert a desktop first person application into an outdoor/indoor mobile augmented reality application. We present an architecture for a low cost, moderately accurate six degrees of freedom tracking system based on GPS, digital compass, and fiducial vision-based tracking. Usability issues such as monster selection, colour, and input devices are discussed. A second application for AR architectural design visualisation is presented.

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ARQuake: an outdoor/indoor augmented reality first person application

We present Mini-Me, an adaptive avatar for enhancing Mixed Reality (MR) remote collaboration between a local Augmented Reality (AR) user and a remote Virtual Reality (VR) user. The Mini-Me avatar represents the VR user's gaze direction and body gestures while it transforms in size and orientation to stay within the AR user's field of view. A user study was conducted to evaluate Mini-Me in two collaborative scenarios: an asymmetric remote expert in VR assisting a local worker in AR, and a symmetric collaboration in urban planning. We found that the presence of the Mini-Me significantly improved Social Presence and the overall experience of MR collaboration.

Mini-Me: An Adaptive Avatar for Mixed Reality Remote Collaboration

Although the field of mixed reality has grown significantly over the last decade, there have been few published books about augmented reality, particularly the interface design aspects. "Emerging Technologies of Augmented Reality: Interfaces and Design" provides a foundation of the main concepts of augmented reality (AR), with a particular emphasis on user interfaces, design, and practical AR techniques, from tracking algorithms to design principles for AR interfaces. "Emerging Technologies of Augmented Reality: Interfaces and Design" contains comprehensive information focusing on the following topics: technologies that support AR, development environments, interface design and evaluation of applications, and case studies of AR applications.

Bruce H. Thomas

Papers

ARQuake: the outdoor augmented reality gaming system

The efficacy of playing a virtual reality game in modulating pain for children with acute burn injuries: A randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN87413556]

ARQuake: an outdoor/indoor augmented reality first person application

Mini-Me: An Adaptive Avatar for Mixed Reality Remote Collaboration

Emerging Technologies of Augmented Reality: Interfaces and Design