A matrix quantizer incorporating the human visual model

This paper discusses the design of a matrix quantizer incorporating the human visual model for image encoding. It is well known that in image processing square error distortion measure is not the most suitable yardstick for the evaluation of subjective quality of reconstructed images. Since in almost all image data compression systems the human observer is the ultimate destination, one may take into account some parameters of the human visual system in computing the distance measure used in the design of an encoding algorithm. The matrix quantizer design and encoding algorithms have been modified to include a reasonably accurate model to reflect the human visual perception process. It is found that the reconstructed images in this case are sharper and exhibit much less staircase effect usually found in matrix quantizers that do not include such a model. The results were compared for rate one and 0.56 bits per pixel (bpp) with those of straight matrix quantizers of similar rate and size.