Image retrieval using sketched image on multimedia networks: new criteria for designing new type of TV sets

Image retrieval from distributed image servers using a sketched image was confirmed to be superior to that using keywords. In accordance with experimental and analytical studies of electronic encyclopedias, the total processing time of the image retrieval using a sketched image was much shorter than that of the image retrieval using keywords, and the volume of data required for the image retrieval using a sketched image was much smaller than that for the image retrieval using keywords. Even if not familiar with English, the user can easily access the desired image databases using the sketched image at high speed. It is very important that image retrieval using a sketched image is not restricted by the user ages, knowledge, and languages since the user can easily access the image databases from terminals without keyboards. The concept of image retrieval using a sketched image will provide a new criteria for designing a new type of TV set. This new type of TV set, containing multimedia user terminal functions as well as the conventional TV receiver functions, is proposed based on the results of the image retrieval using a sketched image