An Approach to Visual Information and Space Understanding for Automatic Layout (VISUAL)

Abstract

Handling of visual information is one of the most human-oriented problems. Though people can easily do it without any measurement or calculation, it is generally very difficult to treat it in computer application. In our previous studies, we have developed a method to perceive picture interference, and showed its applications. This method can be applicable to various automatic layout systems, in which a rule such as "set the object to an appropriate place without interfering other objects" is included. We have also proposed a concept of "spatial distance" for more human-like handling of visual information. In the present study, we have utilized the concept of "spatial distance" and proposed a method to understand the most "wide" place in the limited area. This method is applied to a case where three polygons are already placed in a given area. The system finds out the most suitable place for the fourth polygon to be placed without any instructions from human operator. After setting the polygon to the recommended place, the system again checks the "spatial distance" between the newest polygon and already-set polygons, and suggests to adjust the position of the newest polygon so as be equally apart from other adjacent polygons.