This work provides a complete taxonomy of the varied approaches used to describe visual
features. Existing literature is scattered across research journals and a few sparse chapters
here and there in computer vision textbooks. This work provides a framework by which visual
feature metrics can be compared and contrasted leading to a better understanding of existing
methods and pointing the way forward to the grand challenges and emerging areas of research to
yield better metrics and increased image understanding. Visual image analysis is accelerating
with the advent of 3D depth cameras higher resolution media better sensor color and more and
more images and visual information available online including YouTube and many still images.
The compute challenges presented by analyzing the vast amounts of visual information will need
to be overcome in order to bring about the next wave of visual computing applications and
services for everyday life. This book will pave part of the way.
