Consider retiring with the Lena example

[obra]

While the Lena playboy centerfold image is a traditional example for image compression technologies, many of us find it to be dated and a bit misogynistic.

even if it’s an image that the authors like, it would be really great if you would consider replacing it with some thing less divisive.

Thanks!

[ghost]

What's wrong with a modestly dressed, beautiful woman as an image example?

I don't see that being offensive to anyone but somehow you make a big deal of it.

[obra]

Hi Teran,

Here's one reasonably eloquent writeup about why it's time to retire the Lena image:

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/it-s-time-to-retire-lena-from-computer-science.html

[ghost]

It's a good image compression test image, especially for it's day. I think you'd have a much more compelling case finding a better, more modern one (maybe 4096x4096?) than complaining about one that's worked fine for decades because it's suddenly become socially unacceptable to a small percentage of the population who has nothing better to do but make up problems and complain about them.

[obra]

At this point, since neither of us are committers on the project and have said our piece, shall we put this down and let the committers handle this as they see fit?

[Bystroushaak]

many of us find it to be dated and a bit misogynistic.

I think that you should speak for yourself, or for the group you represent (as an elected representative I hope), and not use this "many of us" rhetoric, which is quite manipulative and also possibly untrue.

[ilyakurdyukov]

If some people argue about a certain tradition of other peoples - doesn't that mean that the first are intolerant?

[hackerb9]

It has been a tradition only since 1973, so it's not a big deal to come up with a better tradition. Using a nude Playboy centerfold as "data" wasn't intended to drive women away from computer science, but it has had that effect. Whether you continue this "tradition" is up to you, @ilyakurdyukov, but please consider this: Lena herself doesn't want her picture used for science anymore. Why would we keep using it after she asked us to stop?

[hackerb9]

Here is a public domain image of Grace Hopper which I have used to test jpeg2png

Upper left: original Upper right: 64x64 crop Lower left: JPEG at 10% quality Lower right: 10% quality after jpeg2png.

[ilyakurdyukov]

@hackerb9 Then make your own tool to reduce JPEG artifacts and use any image you like. It seems that people like you aren't capable of such things, all they can do is come to others and impose their preferences.

[hackerb9]

I couldn't impose my preferences even if I wanted to. My hope was to inform @victorvde as I figured he probably didn't know that Lena didn't want her image used anymore.

[ilyakurdyukov]

I guess is that if everyone is to follow @hackerb9 wishes, then people should also burn and erase certain books by certain authors?

[mvasilkov]

Using <a file> as "data" wasn't intended to drive women away from computer science, but it has had that effect.

The total number of women who changed their field based on that jpeg file: 0.

In case you have factual data to back up your claim, please provide it. Otherwise that's just crazy talk, masses of people driven away from computer science because of a jpeg file.