The cyclic object: The example of visual reasoning in the shape understanding system

In this paper the method of understanding a cyclic object is presented. The cyclic object is a 2D object with holes. The cyclic object frequently appears in many fields of medical research and engineering. The method of understanding of the cyclic object is part of the research aimed at developing a shape understanding system (SUS) able to perform complex visual tasks connected with visual thinking. In SUS, in contrast to the recognition systems, 'recognition' is interpreted in the context of the well-defined shape classes. Understanding includes, among others, obtaining the visual concept in the process of the visual reasoning, naming and visual explanation. The result of the visual reasoning is the symbolic name that refers to the possible classes of shape. The possible classes of shape, viewed as hierarchical structures, are incorporated into the shape model. The cyclic class is defined and the processing methods characteristic for this class are described. At each stage of the reasoning process that leads to assigning an examined object to one of the possible classes, the novel processing methods are used. These methods are very efficient because they deal with the very specific classes of shapes. The main novelty of the presented method is that the cyclic object is related to the concept of the shape categories called the symbolic names. This approach makes it possible at first to focus on the processing of the cyclic object and next to interpret it as a real world object or a sign. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.