Abstract-This paper presents a novel method for image similarity measure, where a hand-drawn rough black and white sketch is compared with an existing data base of full color images (art works and photographs). The proposed system creates ambient intelligence in terms of the evaluation of nonprecise, easy to input sketched information. The system can then provide the user with options of either retrieving similar images in the database or ranking the quality of the sketch against a given standard, i.e., the original image model. Alternatively, the inherent pattern-matching capability of the system can be utilized to allow detection of distortion in any given real time-image sequences in vision-driven ambient intelligence applications. The proposed method can cope with images containing several complex objects in an inhomogeneous background. Two abstract images are obtained using strong edges of the model image and the morphologically thinned outline of the sketched image. The angular-spatial distribution of pixels in the abstract images is then employed to extract new compact and effective features using the Fourier transform. The extracted features are rotation and scale invariant and robust against translation. Experimental results from seven different approaches confirm the efficacy of the proposed method in both the retrieval performance and the time required for feature extraction and search.

The authors present a novel approach for image representation based on geometric distribution of edge pixels. Object segmentation is not needed, therefore the input image may consist of several complex objects. For an efficient description of an arbitrary edge image, the edge map is divided into M/spl times/N angular radial partitions and local features are extracted for these partitions. The entire image is then described as a set of spatially distributed invariant feature descriptors using the magnitude of the Fourier transform. The approach is scale-and rotation-invariant and tolerates small translations and erosions. The extracted features are characterised by their compactness and fast extraction/matching time. They exhibit significant improvement in retrieval performance using the average normalised modified retrieval rank (ANMRR) measure. Experimental results, using an image database initiated from a movie, confirm the supremacy of the proposed method. Edge image description using angular radial partitioning A. Chalechale, A. Mertins and G. Naghdy Abstract: The authors present a novel approach for image representation based on geometric distribution of edge pixels. Object segmentation is not needed, therefore the input image may consist of several complex objects. For an efficient description of an arbitrary edge image, the edge map is divided into M £ N angular radial partitions and local features are extracted for these partitions. The entire image is then described as a set of spatially distributed invariant feature descriptors using the magnitude of the Fourier transform. The approach is scale-and rotationinvariant and tolerates small translations and erosions. The extracted features are characterised by their compactness and fast extraction/matching time. They exhibit significant improvement in retrieval performance using the average normalised modified retrieval rank (ANMRR) measure. Experimental results, using an image database initiated from a movie, confirm the supremacy of the proposed method. Disciplines Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Background: Frailty assessment is a critical approach in assessing the health status of older people. The clinical tools deployed by geriatricians to assess frailty can be grouped into two categories; using a questionnaire-based method or analyzing the physical performance of the subject. In performance analysis, the time taken by a subject to complete a physical task such as walking over a specific distance, typically three meters, is measured. The questionnaire-based method is subjective, and the time-based performance analysis does not necessarily identify the kinematic characteristics of motion and their root causes. However, kinematic characteristics are crucial in measuring the degree of frailty. Results: The studies reviewed in this paper indicate that the quantitative analysis of activity of daily living, balance and gait are significant methods for assessing frailty in older people. Kinematic parameters (such as gait speed) and sensor-derived parameters are also strong markers of frailty. Seventeen gait parameters are found to be sensitive for discriminating various frailty levels. Gait velocity is the most significant parameter. Short term monitoring of daily activities is a more significant method for frailty assessment than is long term monitoring and can be implemented easily using clinical tests such as sit to stand or stand to sit. The risk of fall can be considered an outcome of frailty. Conclusion: Frailty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon that is defined by various domains; physical, social, psychological and environmental. The physical domain has proven to be essential in the objective determination of the degree of frailty in older people. The deployment of inertial sensor in clinical tests is an effective method for the objective assessment of frailty.

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