Book Description

This book is concerned with the interdisciplinary studies applying computer technologies to the theory and practice of art therapy. The contents consist of the author's sixteen papers published, twelve patents in Korea, Japan, and the U.S.A., and other relevant materials, all organized in a logical sequence. This book is intended for art therapy courses at upper undergraduate and graduate levels. No prior computer knowledge is assumed. Interpretation of drawings no longer needs to be done manually by the therapists themselves because, as this book argues, computerized systems can perform the steps of evaluation and interpretation. The difficult concept of computer science is explained in a simple and concrete way with illustrations, sample drawings, and case studies. This book explains sta­tistical methods, various functions of a computer, technologies in digital image processing, computer algorithms, methodologies in expert systems, and the Bayesian network. All these elements can be used to improve the practice and theory in the evaluation of art and the interpretation of art. Readers do not need to worry about unfamiliar terms such as digital image, algorithm, expert system, and Bayesian network which appear here. Neither should they be concerned about pixel, cluster, edge, blurring, convex hull, regression, etc., the terms which appear later in the book. These terms will be explained with illustrations and drawings for easy understanding. Computational Art Therapy will not only promote the use of various art therapy tools but also provide a foundation for new methodologies through which art therapy researchers can develop their own methodologies to improve the practice and theory of art therapy. It will be of special interest to those studying art therapy, psychology, psychiatry, art, computer science and applied statistics.