Boffins zoom in on digital image search

  • Email a Friend
  • Print Page
Oct 17, 2007 7:21 AM
Tags: boffins | zoom | digital | image | search

Searching for digital photographs is set to become easier thanks to smart software developed by researchers at Penn State University..

The US boffins have developed a software system that automatically tags images as they are uploaded and improves the tags by "learning" from user interaction with the system.

"Tagging itself is challenging as it involves converting an image's pixels to descriptive words," said James Wang, lead researcher and associate professor of information sciences and technology at Penn State.

"But what is novel with the Tagging over Time technology is that the system adapts as people's preferences for images and words change."

The system can accommodate evolving vocabulary and interpretations to images that people have uploaded and are uploading to systems such as Yahoo's Flickr.

This allows the system's vocabulary to grow, replacing old tags with more relevant and more specific new tags, Wang explained.

In tests, the Tagging over Time technology correctly annotated four out of every 10 images, a significant improvement over the researchers' earlier annotation system known as Automatic Linguistic Indexing of Pictures-Real Time.

In the previous system, pixel content of images was analysed to suggest annotations.

In the new software, researchers have added a machine-learning component that enables the computer to learn from user interaction with photo-sharing systems.

"The bottom line is that the system makes it easier to find photographs and is able to improve its performance by itself as time passes," added Ritendra Datta, a graduate student in computer science working with Wang.

"The advancement means time savings for consumers as well as improved searching and referral capabilities."

Copyright © 2009 v3.co.uk


 
Comments

Be the first to comment on this article.
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.
Comment:
Want to participate in the discussion?
Or log in now to comment
 
 
 
Top Stories
TIO website hit by malware
Weekend malware runs one new process per target machine.
 
Microsoft announces Azure launch date
Australia in second wave of country releases.
 
CBA embarks on "database-as-a-service"
Analysis: How the bank intends to save megabucks.
 

Spotlightthe topics we're following

Latest Comments

"With Optus supposedly boosting this service sounds great, record profits on mobile business ..."
by Johnnnny Feb 10, 2010 9:58 AM
 
"The Howard government used to provide free net-nanny software that parents could download & ..."
by Ace Feb 10, 2010 9:56 AM
 
"Digger and JL - the two biggest back-flippers in history. (Or are they they same person ?) Now ..."
by marklara Feb 10, 2010 9:56 AM
 
"Once we get past cloud computing, it will be full speed ahead to blue sky computing - although ..."
by Ace Feb 10, 2010 9:52 AM
 
"Maxxi if your reading this I am pretty sure the opinion of Google far outweighs the minority ..."
by Mark D Feb 10, 2010 9:46 AM
1) HTC Magic16 plans 2%
2) Nokia N9743 plans 9%
3) Nokia E7149 plans 1%
4) Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB30 plans 11%
5) Apple iPhone 8GB42 plans 5%
1) iiNet32 plans 5%
2) Netspace36 plans 11%
3) TPG Internet19 plans 14%
4) Optus33 plans 1%
5) Telstra BigPond30 plans 2%

Mobiles | Broadband | Credit Cards

iTnews

Polls

What is the sweet spot for Apple's entry 16GB Wi-Fi iPad?




   |   View results
$549
  77%
 
$579
  11%
 
$619
  4%
 
$649
  3%
 
$699
  5%
TOTAL VOTES: 384

Vote