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Optical Identification
An Introduction


Prof. David Bernstein
James Madison University

Computer Science Department
bernstdh@jmu.edu

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Motivation
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  • The Problem:
    • Identify "tagged"/"labeled" objects
  • The Optical Identification Solution:
    • Use a light-based sensor to read a "tag"
Approaches
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  • Barcode:
    • The tag consists of a barcode
    • The sensor is a barcode reader that consists of a light source, a photosensor (that converts light to electricity), and a decoder (that interprets the electrical waveform that will depend on the thickness and spacing of the lines)
  • Optical Character Recognition:
    • The tag consists of a string of letters/numbers (e.g., a license plate)
    • The sensor is a digital camera
    • An algorithm is used to convert the pixels to characters
Advantages and Disadvantages
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  • Advantages:
    • Tags are very inexpensive
    • Tags are easy to create
  • Disadvantages:
    • Usually have limited range
    • Sensitive to dirt, weather conditions, etc.
There's Always More to Learn
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