ABSTRACT
Image processing has moved into the mainstream, not only of the engineering world, but of society in general. Personal computers are now capable of handling large graphics and images with ease, and fast networks and modems transfer images in a fraction of the time required just a few years ago. Image manipulation software is a common item on PCs, and CD-ROMs filled with images and multimedia databases are standard fare in the realm of electronic publishing. Furthermore, the development of areas such as data compression, neural networks and pattern recognition, computer vision, and multimedia systems have all contributed to the use of and interest in image processing. Likewise, the growth of image processing as an engineering discipline has fueled interest in these other areas. As a result of this symbiotic growth, image processing has increasingly become a standard tool in the repertoire of the engineer.
