A15 - Pattern Recognition

    In image processing, a pattern is a set of features. [1] These features can be the color, size, area, or shape of an object. Depending on the value of these features we can classify our objects. If a group of objects have more or less the same features, then they belong to the same class. 

    Look at it this way, features make up the signature of a specific object. Note that, no matter how legibly a person writes, no matter how hard that person tries to recreate an identical copy of one of his signatures, he will fail. There will always be a difference each time he/she signs. However, this doesn't remove the fact that that signature belongs to that particular person. Same goes with object features. Objects may not be completely identical, but to a degree they are such that they can be classified under one group.

    In this blog, we will be classifying objects based on their features. This type of task is commonly called Pattern Recognition. Some applications of pattern recognition are: 

1. the automatic recognition of handwritten postal codes on postal envelopes and [2] 
2. the automatic recognition of images of human faces. [2]

Figure 1. Face Recognition.
Click to go to source.

Figure 2. Handwritten Letter.
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 For this activity, we will be looking into 4 classes and extract features from them. The first feature will be area. 

References

1. Soriano, M. A14 - Pattern Recognition. Applied Physics 186 Activity Manual. 2008.
2. Pattern Recognition, Retrieved September 20, 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_recognition