Neat vs Scruffy: A review of Computational Models for
Spatial Expressions.
Amitabha Mukerjee
Center for Robotics
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, INDIA
e-mail: amit@iitk.ernet.in
Abstract:
This paper attempts a survey of the computational modalities for representing
spatial expressions. The focus is on computational or synthetic
models, as opposed to cognitive or linguistic aspects. A number of
formalisms based on qualitative paradigms such as
topology seek to discretize space into regions based on alignment
or tangency. This approach may be termed as ``neat''. Yet a large
class of spatial expresssions (e.g. ``near'', ``move away from'') do
not involve alignments, and even some which do (e.g. ``in-front-of'')
have gradations. These gradations in a continuum are clearly less
``neat''; we may view these as ``scruffy'';
there appears to be a growing trend towards the scruffy in recent times.
The distinctions between the different models reviewed are
demonstrated using the canonical example of ``the chair in front of
the desk''.
Postscript File.
(143K, 33 pages)
Amitabha Mukerjee Thu Jul 11 18:21:09 EDT 1996
(amit@iitk.ernet.in)