In Square Circle: Geometric Knowledge of the Indus Civilization

This paper proposes an efficient approach for human face detection and exact facial features location in a head-and-shoulder image. This method searches for the eye pair candidate as a base line by using the characteristic of the high intensity contrast between the iris and the sclera. To discover other facial features, the algorithm uses geometric knowledge of the human face based on the obtained eye pair candidate. The human face is finally verified with these unclosed facial features. Due to the merits of applying the Prune-and-Search and simple filtering techniques, we have shown that the proposed method indeed achieves very promising performance of face detection and facial feature location.

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The Punch-Marked Coins: A Survival of the Indus Civilization

Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society ◽

10.1017/s0035869x00095538 ◽

1935 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

pp. 720-721

Author(s):

K. P. Jayaswal

Keyword(s):

British Museum ◽

Gold Medal ◽

Special Study ◽

Public Attention ◽

Indus Civilization

In this Journal, ante, pp. 307 f., in an article with the above title, Dr. C. L. Fábri draws attention to the affinity that seemingly exists between symbols found on the Mohenjo-daro and Harappā seals and those on certain punch-marked coins. As the impression might be conveyed by this paper that Dr. Fábri was the first to be struck by this correspondence, it is only fair to note that two Indian scholars had previously called public attention to this similarity, citing several of the identical examples now given by Dr. Fábri. Dr. Pran Nath noticed the resemblance between the signs five years ago, and made a special study of the punch-marked coins in the British Museum in this connection; he referred to the question on more than one occasion, and published specific examples in the Indian Historical Quarterly, vol. vii (1931), Supplement, pp. 11 f. Mr. Durga Prasad also, in pamphlets and lectures and in the thesis submitted to the Numismatic Society of India, which won the gold medal of the Society in 1933 (at Baroda), had dealt with the question.

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ETNO-MATEMÁTICA EN INDÍGENAS ULWAS, COMUNIDAD DE KARAWALA, REGIÓN AUTÓNOMA ATLÁNTICO SUR, NICARAGUA

Ciencia e Interculturalidad ◽

10.5377/rci.v11i2.960 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 70-87

Author(s):

Minerva Soza Valverde ◽

Alba Luz Dávila Espinoza

Keyword(s):

Indigenous People ◽

Mathematical Knowledge ◽

Autonomous Region ◽

Ancestral Knowledge ◽

El Sistema ◽

Geometric Knowledge ◽

Anthropological Approach ◽

Bilingual Intercultural Education ◽

Curricular Transformation ◽

Grinding Stone

Esta investigación analizó los conocimientos etno-matemáticos que poseen los pueblos indígenas ulwas, comunidad de Karawala, Región Autónoma Atlántico Sur (RAAS), a partir de la identificación de las manifestaciones socioculturales que representan saberes etno-matemáticos ancestrales. La investigación fue cualitativa con enfoque antropológico. Se realizaron guías de observación, entrevistas y grupos focales con líderes, autoridades de la comunidad, docentes y ancianos. Entre los resultados se obtuvo que el Sistema Numérico del Conteo con los Dedos; este conteo los ancestros ulwas lo hacían con los dedos de las manos y de los pies, en el Sistema de Medición se identifican como unidades de medidas la vara, la jícara, los nudos en bejuco. También el empleo de conocimientos geométricos en la construcción de viviendas tradicionales, nasas y elaboración del metate. Estos aportes contribuyen a la revitalización cultural de los pueblos indígenas ulwas y a la gestión curricular en el Subsistema Educativo Autonómico Regional (SEAR), los cuales deben ser adoptados en la transformación curricular de los programas de la Educación Intercultural Bilingüe. Summary This research examined the ethno-mathematical knowledge that the Ulwas indigenous people possesses, who are located in Karawala community, South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS), based on the identification of sociocultural manifestations that the ethno-mathematical ancestral knowledge represents. The research was qualitative with anthropological approach. Observation guides were made, interviews and focus groups with leaders, community authorities, teachers and elders. Among the results obtained, it reflects the Counting Numerical System with the Fingers. This counting was done by the Ulwas ancestors with their fingers and toes. In the Measurement System several elements were identified as measuring units, such as the stick, the gourd, and the knots on liana. They also employed the use of geometric knowledge in traditional housing construction, and development of fish trap and grinding stone. These inputs contribute to the cultural revitalization of the Ulwas indigenous people and to the curricular management in the Regional Autonomous Education Subsystem (SEAR), which should be adopted in the curricular transformation of the Bilingual Intercultural Education program.

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Visual Foundations of Euclidean Geometry

10.31234/osf.io/rmdeh ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Véronique Izard ◽

Pierre Pica ◽

Elizabeth Spelke

Keyword(s):

Euclidean Geometry ◽

Physical World ◽

Formal Instruction ◽

Geometric Knowledge ◽

Position And Orientation ◽

Cognitive Foundations ◽

The U.S

Geometry defines objects that can be physically realized in space, and our knowledge of abstract geometry may therefore stem from our representations of the physical world. Here, we examined the possibility that representations of small, 2-dimensional visual forms provide cognitive foundations for geometric knowledge, and in particular Euclidean knowledge. We asked two questions: First, are humans sensitive to form variations that are relevant to Euclidean geometry (e.g. changes in angle)? Second, can observers easily disregard variations that are irrelevant to Euclidean geometry (e.g. changes in position and orientation)? One hundred and twelve participants from the U.S. (age 3-34 years), and 25 participants from the Amazon (age 5-67 years) were asked to locate geometric deviants in panels of 6 forms of variable orientation. Participants of all ages and from both cultures detected deviant forms defined in terms of metric proportions (hereafter, ‘shape’) or global size, but only U.S. adults drew distinctions between mirror images (i.e. forms differing in sense). Similarly, irrelevant variations of sense did not disrupt the detection of a shape or size deviant, while irrelevant variations of shape or size interfered with the detection of size or shape deviants, respectively. Children and adults from both cultures thus analyzed visual forms according to their Euclidean properties, even if they had not received formal instruction in geometry. These findings show that representations of planar visual forms provide core intuitions on which humans’ knowledge in Euclidean geometry could possibly be grounded.

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