A desktop computational platform that facilitates the teaching of digital image processing remains a needed tool for both engineers and computer scientists, especially when real-world applications are abound in pattern recognition, computer vision, geographic information systems, and biomedical imaging, to name a few. In line with the educational reform suggested by the National Science Education Standards [1], this type of teaching platform allows for the bridging of research to teaching through practical implementation of imaging algorithms [2]. The teaching through the proposed desktop computational platform has proven effective both in increasing the quality of project implementation and in research throughput of students in an academic setting. Different tools exist which currently allow students to manipulate images, but a fine balance must still exist between ease of developing image processing algorithms and the portability of the resulting code in user friendly computer platforms to allow for broader access. The teaching tool is as proposed which allows students to be exposed to developing and writing the code to their own algorithms through an effective graphical user interface. The program is expandable, and new algorithms can be added with ease. Once compiled, the program can be demonstrated as a stand alone tool, with no additional software being required. This software has been implemented successfully in a digital image processing course at Florida International University. The speed of completion of the assignments has increased, as well as the satisfaction of the students with their code. The training of the students using this GUI interface required one lecture session of two hours through an interactive presentation.
