Theories into pattern recognition

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Outline and evaluate two or more explanations of pattern recognition  (24)

Pattern/object recognition is concerned with the processes involved in the identification of images and objects. There are three approaches to pattern recognition. Template theory, prototype theories and feature detection theory.

        Template theory proposed that humans have a set of miniature templates or copies which are stored in the long term memory and against we match incoming information.

However flexibility is a considerable limitation within this approach as one template could not cover all the possible forms of a pattern. For example, humans would have to possess templates for every possible form of the letter H and to store this number of templates has been widely regarded as implausible (Eysenck & Keane, 2000). This shows that this theory lacks flexibility.

In spite of this, template theory has been effective in practical applications. This works extremely well for computerised recognition systems which depend on unambiguous identification of digits and symbols. Forensic scientists also use it as a method of matching fingerprints. This shows that this theory has allowed further research to emerge.

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Another weakness is that template theory is its inability to account for the recognition of patterns viewed from non-standard angles. Once again we would have to have more templates stored for recognising objects that are upside down or inverted. This would then make out long term memory highly uneconomical in terms of storage.

        Prototype theories developed on template theories and suggested that humans have prototypes which are typical representations of a pattern/object rather than templates. A prototype is an abstract model stored in the long term memory, which embodies the most typical features of an object or pattern. When we ...

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