IMAGE QUALITY SEMANTICS

In this contribution we discuss image quality in the context of the vi suo-cognitive system as an information-processing system. To this end, we subdivide the information-processing as performed by the visuo-cog nitive system into three distinct processes: (1) the construction of a visual representation of the image, (2) the interpretation of this re presentation by means of a confrontation with memory, and (3) task-dir ected semantic processing of the interpreted scene to formulate a prop er response. A successful completion of these processes can be ensured only when two main requirements are satisfied: (1) the visual represe ntation of the image should be sufficiently precise, and (2) the degre e of correspondence between the visual representation and ''knowledge of reality'' as stored in memory should be high. We then relate these requirements to the attributes ''usefulness'' and ''naturalness'' of t he image and give a functional description of image quality in terms o f naturalness and usefulness. To conclude, experimental results suppor ting this description of image quality will be discussed.