Readings 12: Signal Processing

by Mike Gleicher on November 21, 2014

Learning about signal processing and image process is tough: the theory requires math that usually needs a whole semester unto itself. You’ll need to see it a few times before it will sink in.

There are two readings. One from the graphics textbook – which is a nice introduction to the basics of the theory, with some connection to practice. The other is a chapter from a computer vision book, which goes through the theory way too quickly, but hints at some cool applications. You should read through both.

The reading for the image and signal processing part of the course is Chapter 9: Signal Processing from the Shirley and Marschner book.

The other reading is Chapter 3 of Rick Szeliski’s Book “Computer Vision.” Even though this is a published book, he makes it available online –with the request that if you want the book, you should download the whole thing. So, you need to download the whole book even though we’re only looking at chapter 3. And not even all of that. But the rest of the book is really good (Chapters 2 and 10 are relevant to the class), so you might want to look through it.

In the Szeliski book you should read:

  • Section 3.1 – a grab back of interesting techniques that are simple but useful.
  • Section 3.2 – another take on filtering and convolution, which you probably will need to see multiple times.
  • You might want to look at pages 77-80 that discuss sampling in Chapter 2.
  • Skim through 3.3 – there are lots of cool things here, but most are pretty advanced. Pay attention to bi-lateral filters though.
  • Look at 3.4 – Again, this gets at Fourier transforms which is the hardest theoretical part of the class. You’ll see it in the Marschner chapter as well. Probably you’ll need to see it many times before it will make sense.
  • Look at 3.5.1 and 3.5.2 – again, topics you’ll need to see many times.
  • The rest of 3.5 and 3.6 are topics that we won’t really get to very much in class. 3.6 is something we used to spend time on, and gives a compelling reason to learn the theory.
  • Skip 3.7. Way beyond what we want to talk about in the class.

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