Reneta Barneva speaks at International Conference on Humans and Computers

Dr. Reneta Barneva, chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at SUNY Fredonia, was invited to give an address at the 15th International Conference on Humans and Computers held on Feb. 11 and 12 at the University of Shizuoka, Japan.

Topics addressed at the conference included 3D computer graphics, computer-aided visualization, cognitive engineering, artificial intelligence techniques in human-computer interaction, multi-agent systems and social stimulation, virtual environments and mixed reality, verbal and non-verbal interfaces, web-based human computer interaction and related issues.

In her address, Barneva discussed space and time efficient algorithms in imaging sciences. The current boom in imaging sciences is due in part to the expansion of digital image acquisition and storage based on hardware development. Large databases and digital warehouses of images currently exist in medicine, security, geosciences, astronomy, metallurgy and other fields. Barneva said time-and space-efficient algorithms are necessary in order to take maximum advantage of these huge databases.

Development of specialized algorithms and software for expansion in the development of intelligent perepherals, specialized embedded computers, notably those equipped with image acquisition devices and image processing functions, is expanding, Barneva explained, so advancement of specialized algorithms and software for these devices is becoming increasingly important.

As a result, Barneva explained, it is important to create novel space-efficient algorithms. Both space- and time-efficient algorithms are related to new models and some basic problems of image analysis and processing have interesting solutions when using trade-off between space and time, she concluded.

Barneva’s interests span several areas of applied and theoretical computer science, including digital geometry, design and analysis of algorithms, computer graphics, multimedia and computational biology. She is the recipient of several national and international awards, including the Wilkes Award of the British Computer Society, SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Scholarship and Creative Activities and the Kasling Lecture at SUNY Fredonia.

The conference, which attracted participants from America, Asia and Europe and included satellite sessions at the University of Aizu, Japan and Düsseldorf University of Applied Science, Germany, was sponsored by the Humans and Computers Committee, Three Dimension Forum, Japan (3DF) and Journal of Virtual Reality and Broadcasting.