Practical Computer Vision with SimpleCV: The Simple Way to Make Technology See

by Kurt Demaagd, Anthony Oliver, Nathan Oostendorp

Learn how to build your own computer vision (CV) applications quickly and easily with SimpleCV, an open source framework written in Python. Through examples of real-world applications, this hands-on guide introduces you to basic CV techniques for collecting, processing, and analyzing streaming digital images. You’ll then learn how to apply these methods with SimpleCV, using sample Python code. All you need to get started is a Windows, Mac, or Linux system, and a willingness to put CV to work in a variety of ways. Programming experience is optional.

Capture images from several sources, including webcams, smartphones, and Kinect Filter image input so your application processes only necessary information Manipulate images by performing basic arithmetic on pixel values Use feature detection techniques to focus on interesting parts of an image Work with several features in a single image, using the NumPy and SciPy Python libraries Learn about optical flow to identify objects that change between two image frames Use SimpleCV’s command line and code editor to run examples and test techniques

Genres: Programming

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Mike Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to computer vision using SimpleCV, but several of the examples either don't work or need updates. Getting the Kinect and barcode/QR code examples to run were especially difficult because of all of the dependencies on other libraries. I cannot blame the author of the book for the problems with getting a system setup to run all of the examples, but the book itself did not provide much help and does not seem to have been updated for more recent developments like switching from zxing to zbar libraries for barcodes.

This book is more like a cookbook than one you would reach for in order to learn computer vision techniques. It is good hands on exposure for entry into the field.

[Sujal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of the library, not as strong as I was hoping in terms of understanding the concepts the library is built upon. I also have some very specific requirements, which I think I'll need a textbook for, so I'm not dinging the book for that.

The star I did ding this for is more around the examples and the quality of the photos. I realize he was aiming for simple examples that the reader might do while playing with the code, but some sample photos of practical applications would make this amazing. There are a few in there, but not enough IMHO. I suspect many readers are like me - people who are coming to this library with an end goal or more complicated project in mind.

Anyway, good book, recommended for getting up to speed on SimpleCV.