This book contains the proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Data Analysis and Processing held in Cefalu' (Palermo, ITALY) on September 23-25 1987. The aim of this Conference, now at its fourth edition, was to give a general view of the actual research in the area of methods and systems for achieving artificial vision as well as to have an up-dated information of the current activity in Europe. A number of invited speakers presented overviews of statistical classification problems and methods, non conventional archi tectures, mathematical morphology, robotic vision, analysis of range images in vision systems, pattern matching algorithms and astronomical data processing. Finally a survey of the discussion on the contribution of AI to Image Analysis is given. The papers presented at the Conference have been subdivided in four sections: knowledge based approaches, basic pattern recognition tools, multi features system based solutions, image analysis-applications. We must thank the IBM-Italia and the Digital Equipment Corpo ration for sponsoring this Conference. We feel that the days spent at Cefalu' were an important step toward the mutual exchange of scientific information within the image processing community. v. Cantoni Pavia University V. Di Gesu' Palermo University S. Levialdi Rome University v CONTENTS INVITED LECTURES . * * * * . * * * 3 Morphological Optics.

Sensorialities: Information Extraction and Perceptual Grouping in the Auditory System; B.C.J. Moore. Ultrasonic Techniques for Environment Perception; D. Dotti. The Vestibular System; E. Mira. Perception and Integration: Integration and Storage of Sensory Motor Information: Computation in the Cerebellum; E. D?Angelo. Field Computation and Sensory Fusion; V. Sanguineti, et al. Panel Summary-Plasticity and Reconfigurability in Sensory Systems; S. Vallerga, et al. Perception and Decision: Solving by Redundancy and Misunderstanding by Simplification; W. Gerbino. Perception for Decision or Decision for Perception?;B.Y. Zavidovique. Perception and Action: Integrating Reflexes and Voluntary Behaviors: Coordination and Adaptation Controls in Man; G.M. Gauthier, et al. Motion Perception as an Area Process; Y. Hermush, Y. Yeshurun. Perception and Representation: Representation and Integration of Multiple Knowledge Sources: Issues and Questions; C. Castelfranchi. Symbolic, Conceptual and Subconceptual Representations; P. Gardenfors. Percepton and Communication: Picture Icon and Word Icon; J.P. Rossi, G. Querrioux-Coulombier. Panel Summary. Characters, Pixels, and Phonemes; S. Levialdi, et al. 4 Additional Articles. 4 Panel Summaries. Index.

The authors provide an in-depth, comprehensive examination of hierarchical parallel systems within a comparative and taxonomical framework. They include a general introduction to hierarchical structures, possible topologies, and possible designs; an in-depth discussion of all proposed or built hierarchical parallel systems; and language supports and programming strategies. Their work will serve as both a teacher and reference to programmers and students in computer sciences and electrical engineering.