DISTANCE LEARNING IN MAMMOGRAPHIC DIGITAL IMAGE-PROCESSING

The potential of interactive multimedia and Internet technologies is i nvestigated with respect to the implementation of a distance learning system in medical imaging. The system is built according to a client-s erver architecture, based on the Internet infrastructure, composed of server nodes conceptually modelled as World Wide Web (WWW) sites. Site s are implemented by integration and customization of available compon ents. The system evolves around network-delivered interactive multimed ia courses and network-based tutoring, which constitute its main learn ing features. This potential has been demonstrated by means of an impl emented system, validated with digital image processing content, speci fically image enhancement. Image enhancement methods are theoretically described and applied on mammograms. Emphasis is given in the interac tive presentation of the effects of algorithm parameters on images. Th e system end-user access depends on available bandwidth, so high speed access can be achieved via LAN or local ISDN connections.