Computer Vision Teaching Modules For Community College Computer Science And Engineering Courses

Abstract

This paper describes computer vision teaching modules we have developed for use in several courses at the University of Nevada as part of a Combined Research and Curriculum Development (CRCD) project, sponsored by NSF. Modules developed to date include programming projects for CS1 and/or CS2 courses, an image compression module for an introductory logic course, a digital camera interfacing module for a microprocessor course, and several programming modules for use in a data structures course. We have also found that these modules can be used effectively at the community college level and can provide resources to community college faculty that they might not otherwise have readily available. In fact, the use of computer graphics and image processing programs as teaching and motivational tools is becoming common at all levels of education. As an example, one of our modules used in CS1 provides a brief background in computer vision concepts and allows students to write an image processing program with applications in computer vision. Using concepts learned in a first programming course students can read in a two dimensional array of data from a file that represents a black and white photographic image, perform one or more transformations on the data, and write the transformed data to a new file. A simple image viewer program can be used to display the before and after images and students can actually see and understand the effects of the transformation. In addition to learning more about the target subject it is the intent of the modules that students also have some fun with images. Many students do indeed enjoy the visual nature of the projects and are surprised that they can accomplish so much in lower division courses. Instructors wishing to include computer vision into their courses can easily modify a given module’s contents and adopt all or parts of any given module. The modules are available for free use or adaptation by other instructors and institutions. http://www.cs.unr.edu/CRCD/

Index Terms

Computer Vision, Image Processing, Programming Projects, Teaching Modules

Introduction and Background

Students have long complained, and rightfully so, that traditional programming exercises suitable for introductory computer science and engineering classes are largely uninteresting and uninspiring. Students vastly prefer to write programs which have some perceived value to them or which pertain to their area of study. Regrettably, most programming tasks beyond the mundane are very difficult to implement at the introductory level, so beginning students are relegated to exercises which often provide little motivation to stretch their developing skills. However, computer vision and image processing provide a mechanism for implementing useful

“Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education”