A quiz on the organization of the module

Adrian F. Clark

1. What is examined in the progress tests?

   • the lecture material
   • the lectures and experiments
   • your general knowledge of computer vision

   • the experiments

   The progress tests focus on the experiments you have carried out, and that is why you are encouraged to keep detailed records of what you have done and what you have found. Lecture material is examined only where it is part of an experiment.

2. How many progress tests does the module have?

   • 3
   • 1

   • 2

   • 0

   There are two progress tests, roughly mid-way and at the end of the module.

3. Why do I have to learn OpenCV?

   • it has become the de facto standard for computer vision programming

   • it is really difficult to learn
   • it is the only computer vision package available
   • it is really easy to learn

   OpenCV has become the most widely-used computer vision software package, especially for real-time work. It is quite ugly (in your lecturer's opinion) and quite difficult to use in places. Please do dedicate your career to improving upon it!

4. How are the progress tests organized?

   • on a one-to-one basis with the lecturer

   • online and open-book

   • online and without access to notes etc
   • in the software laboratories

   The progress tests are done online, with each student being given a random choice of questions from a 'question bank' and the order of the choices randomized, just like the test you are currently doing. Note that the progress tests are taken via Moodle and, unlike this one, you're allowed only one go at it. The tests are open-book, meaning that you can use your lecture notes and record of experiments in it.

5. How long is the module's exam?

   • 2 hours

   • 1.5 hours
   • 3 hours
   • 1 hour

   There is a single examination for the module or 2 hours duration, which will take place at the start of the summer term.

6. What is a restricted open-book exam?

   • you are given a summary sheet provided by the lecturer

   • you can access any web resources on your phone
   • you are provided with a copy of the leeture notes
   • you can bring in only a textbook

   For this module, you will be provided with a summary sheet of important stuff in the exam, and this will be available on Moodle before then for you to review. You will not be able to use an electronic version of them on a phone or similar. The idea is to make the exam a test of your ability to solve computer vision problems, not a test of your memory.

7. What is the purpose of the lab sessions?

   • to be able to do the progress tests
   • to learn OpenCV
   • to fill all my waking hours with work

   • to learn the practicalities and difficulties of vision software

   I hope you realize that the real purpose of the experiments are to learn first-hand the difficulties of producing working vision software and to gain an understanding of what is possible in practice, even if it seems like you are doing the other three possible answers!

8. How many assignments does the module have?

   • 2
   • 3

   • 0

   • 1

   There are no assignments for the module.

9. How is the module's material delivered?

   • a series of videos with accompanying notes
   • laboratory sessions

   • a combination of printable notes, overheads and experiments for you to do

   • lectures in which you make your own notes

   The primary resource for the module is the printable notes. I run through the material in a series of 'lectures' which gives you the chance to ask me questions -- though you can do that by email too. Vision is an inherently practical subject, so it is important that you also pick up practical skills by doing the experiments.

10. Why do the labs have to be done in Python?

    • your lecturer doesn't know Java
    • it runs more quickly than other possible languages

    • it is good for rapid prototyping and development

    • it makes using a test harness easier

    The real reason for having you program in Python is that it is currently the best language for rapid prototyping and has been interfaced to a wide range of external packages, including OpenCV and TensorFlow. Java is widely used but its notion of "write once, run anywhere" is slowly being eroded and its run-time support is often ugly. The Java wrappers for OpenCV also have a reputation for being difficult to use. Programming OpenCV applications directly in C++ is worthwhile only when there is a real need for speed. On the other hand, Python code can execute pretty slowly.