IAF Video Playlist
SCIL-Image
As biology student starting his major in Medical Informatics at the Free University of Amsterdam, Richard van Balen, was unsatisfied with the way in which image processing development was handled differently everywhere. As a better alternative
he developed SCIL, a C-interpreter-based, domain-independent interactive development environment.
The implementation of his vision, resulting in the revolutionary interactive image processing environment SCILIMAGE, changed everything and became the industry standard in the Netherlands.
Image Processing Industry Standard
A wide platform of SCIL-Image was installed in the Netherlands. The four main universities active in the field of image processing based their research and development on SCIL-Image. In the community of image processing experts, SCIL-Image was soon accepted as the new industry standard.
Various university courses in image processing used SCIL-Image and it was used in various ESPRIT programs as a common development basis.
Imaging Application Framework
A few years later, he set about simplifying the unnecessarily complicated development of MsWindows GUI applications by developing an easy to use component based Imaging Application Framework. As a kind of Test / Software Portfolio, SCIL-Image was also implemented in the IAF. Videos of SCIL-Image expressed in the IAF can be found above in the video playlist.
The images below shows IAF Help with an overview of IAF and the Interactive GUI Editor
As biology student starting his major in Medical Informatics at the Free University of Amsterdam, Richard van Balen, was unsatisfied with the way in which image processing development was handled differently everywhere. As a better alternative
he developed SCIL, a C-interpreter-based, domain-independent interactive development environment.
The implementation of his vision, resulting in the revolutionary interactive image processing environment SCILIMAGE, changed everything and became the industry standard in the Netherlands.
Image Processing Industry Standard
A wide platform of SCIL-Image was installed in the Netherlands. The four main universities active in the field of image processing based their research and development on SCIL-Image. In the community of image processing experts, SCIL-Image was soon accepted as the new industry standard.
Various university courses in image processing used SCIL-Image and it was used in various ESPRIT programs as a common development basis.
Imaging Application Framework
A few years later, he set about simplifying the unnecessarily complicated development of MsWindows GUI applications by developing an easy to use component based Imaging Application Framework. As a kind of Test / Software Portfolio, SCIL-Image was also implemented in the IAF. Videos of SCIL-Image expressed in the IAF can be found above in the video playlist.
The images below shows IAF Help with an overview of IAF and the Interactive GUI Editor
ABOUT SCILIMAGE
Philosophy: Multiple User Levels
SCIL-Image is a portable, flexible development environment for image processing on several levels. With SCIL-Image, prototypes and applications can be developed quickly and easily. Excellently suited for working in multidisciplinary projects, SCIL-Image was ahead of its time and became the industry standard in the Netherlands.
SCIL-Image's philosophy is to provide customized solutions for different users with different needs. While the user is gaining experience in using the system, the use of the image processing system must also evolve accordingly. The structuring on several levels enables this philosophy of progressive common development with SCIL-Image.
SCIL-Image is a portable, flexible development environment for image processing on several levels. With SCIL-Image, prototypes and applications can be developed quickly and easily. Excellently suited for working in multidisciplinary projects, SCIL-Image was ahead of its time and became the industry standard in the Netherlands.
SCIL-Image's philosophy is to provide customized solutions for different users with different needs. While the user is gaining experience in using the system, the use of the image processing system must also evolve accordingly. The structuring on several levels enables this philosophy of progressive common development with SCIL-Image.
SCIL-Image has four different levels of use, as you can see from the figure above. Since the interface is not hard-coded as in other packages, a structured Command Description File is used to generate the interface levels. This file contains the entries in the menu tree and a representation of the parameters of the individual commands. Since the interface is generated in real time from this file, the menus can be easily adapted to your own wishes, but you can also easily group them according to a specific application. This bridges the gap between the development and application of an image processing system. And if you want to add new commands or new menus, no special coding is necessary!
Level 3. Menu & Dialog Generator
The Menu & Dialog Generator in level 3 combines a fast and efficient command selection with minimal input. The extensive function lists make it easy for beginners to get started and the end user of certain applications will find an optimal interface here. Menu options are converted to commands immediately after they are selected; thus the transition to the second user level takes place almost automatically.
Level 2. Command Expander
Level 2. Command Expander
The second level is the command expander. While the user is gaining experience and getting to know the imaging functions better, it may become time consuming to go through a whole range of menu options again and again. In this case, entering commands directly is more efficient. The Command Expander enables the input of various command abbreviations, the control of the parameters and the interactive input of arguments. Missing arguments are also filled in automatically (defaulting). The Command Expander allows you to use the system as a command interpreter.
Level 1. C Interpreter SCIL
Level 1. C Interpreter SCIL
Most image processing packages have programming options using a special syntax and language, without offering the full flexibility and expression options of standardized, higher program languages. In SCIL-Image, however, a 'C' interpreter at level 1 offers optimal programmability. New functions or even entire applications can be developed interactively. After completion, the functions and applications can be compiled and added to the system and benefit from the full system speed. These new functions can then be activated from any level after they have been entered in the Command Description File.
Level 0. Library Handler
At the lowest level (level 0), the system has a flexible extension mechanism, the Library Handler. This enables access to the standard library, to private or external libraries and even supports dynamic loading of Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). Comprehensive libraries are part of the standard package. Custom and external libraries can be added very easily by providing a Command Description File for them.
Summary
The multi-layered environment serves a wide range of applications:
Level 0. Library Handler
At the lowest level (level 0), the system has a flexible extension mechanism, the Library Handler. This enables access to the standard library, to private or external libraries and even supports dynamic loading of Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). Comprehensive libraries are part of the standard package. Custom and external libraries can be added very easily by providing a Command Description File for them.
Summary
The multi-layered environment serves a wide range of applications:
- The generated Graphical User Interface serves both the beginner and the end user of an application.
- The Command Expander is particularly useful in feasibility studies, short-hand typing and image processing methodology.
- The C interpreter allows fundamental image processing and algorithmic developments, or the development of your own application options.
- The library manager enables the integration of various areas of application, such as data base, statistical analysis, graphics and image processing.