Spatial signal processing algorithms often use pre-given coordinate systems to label pixel positions. These processing algorithms are thus burdened by an external reference grid, making the acquisition of relative, intrinsic features difficult. This is in contrast to animal vision and cognition: animals recognize features without an external coordinate system. We show that a coordinate system-independent algorithm for visual signal processing is not only important for animal vision, but also fundamental for concept formation. In this paper we start with a visual object deformation transfer experiment. We then formulate an algorithm that achieves deformation-invariance with relative coordinates. The paper concludes with implications for general concept formation.

翻译：空间信号处理算法通常使用预先给定的坐标系来标记像素位置。这些处理算法因此受到外部参考网格的束缚，使得获取相对的、内在的特征变得困难。这与动物视觉和认知形成对比：动物无需外部坐标系即可识别特征。我们证明，一种独立于坐标系的视觉信号处理算法不仅对动物视觉至关重要，而且对概念形成也具有基础性意义。本文首先进行了一项视觉对象形变转移实验。随后，我们提出了一种利用相对坐标实现形变不变性的算法。文章最后探讨了该发现对一般概念形成的启示。