my.harvard calendar reminder:
Event Information:
Date : 2/1/2007
Start Time : 04:00 PM
End Time : 05:00 PM
Title : Computing the Shape of a Space (Afra Zomorodian)
Description : Harvard University
Computer Science Colloquium Series
33 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Colloquium
Computing the Shape of a Space
Afra Zomorodian
Computer Science Department
Dartmouth College
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~afra/
Thursday, February 1, 2006
4:00PM
Maxwell Dworkin G125
(Ice Cream at 3:30PM - Maxwell Dworkin 2nd Floor Lounge Area)
Abstract
For any problem, we can identify a space within which the solution lies. The shape of
this space is critical in whether we succeed in finding the solution. Most disciplines
take a quantitative approach, analyzing the geometry of the solution space. However, the
topology of
the space - how it is connected - impacts the effectiveness of the resulting geometric
algorithms. Such topological questions have given rise to the area of computational
topology.
In this talk, I discuss persistence homology, a computational approach to discovering the
connectivity of a space. Persistence reveals the underlying algebraic structure of a
multi-scale view of a sampled space. I begin by motivating the approach through examples
from computer
graphics. After describing the theory, I present applications in biophysics and analysis
of natural images. Finally, I motivate the need for multidimensional persistence and give
a brief overview of a recent theoretical result.
Host: Professor Steven Gortler
Location : Maxwell Dworkin G125 (Ice Cream at 3:30PM - Maxwell Dworkin 2nd Floor Lounge
Area)
URL :
Phone :
Calendar : Computer Science Colloquium Series
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