Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: How would you find Waldo

  1. #1

    Joined
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    151
    Userbars
    2
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    165/45
    DL/UL
    14/9
    Mentioned
    68 times
    Time Online
    6d 17h 26m
    Avg. Time Online
    2m

    How would you find Waldo

    (you need an account to see links)

    (you need an account to see links)

    I might have to try this, when I get some time.
    Last edited by Soredavide; 03-22-2012 at 08:38 PM.

  2. #2
    Saiyan Race
    j03's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    13,722
    Userbars
    166
    Thanks
    5,907
    Thanked
    33,078/6,609
    DL/UL
    23/36
    Mentioned
    3,867 times
    Time Online
    563d 5h 38m
    Avg. Time Online
    3h 13m
    Waldo is the only character in the image with two eyes instead of dots like the other people, so I'd prolly utilize that. Search for the eyes somehow and then do a check of the surrounding pixel colors, if they match Waldo then it's him, if not then move to the next region of what might be his eyes.
    (you need an account to see links)
    (you need an account to see links)(you need an account to see links)

    ------------------------
    [02/24/2013] Stealth CORE is made into the first standalone Neopets auto-player.
    ------------------------


  3. #3

    Joined
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    488
    Thanks
    303
    Thanked
    559/263
    DL/UL
    13/4
    Mentioned
    34 times
    Time Online
    1h 58m
    Avg. Time Online
    N/A
    Quote Originally Posted by Infamous Joe View Post
    Waldo is the only character in the image with two eyes instead of dots like the other people, so I'd prolly utilize that. Search for the eyes somehow and then do a check of the surrounding pixel colors, if they match Waldo then it's him, if not then move to the next region of what might be his eyes.
    Thats because he has glasses, in other puzzles I'm sure there are characters with glasses

  4. #4
    Saiyan Race
    j03's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    13,722
    Userbars
    166
    Thanks
    5,907
    Thanked
    33,078/6,609
    DL/UL
    23/36
    Mentioned
    3,867 times
    Time Online
    563d 5h 38m
    Avg. Time Online
    3h 13m
    Ehhh, just going from my observations of this picture.
    (you need an account to see links)
    (you need an account to see links)(you need an account to see links)

    ------------------------
    [02/24/2013] Stealth CORE is made into the first standalone Neopets auto-player.
    ------------------------


  5. #5

    Joined
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    5,855
    Userbars
    14
    Thanks
    1,510
    Thanked
    2,163/1,229
    DL/UL
    6/0
    Mentioned
    1,100 times
    Time Online
    43d 11h 54m
    Avg. Time Online
    14m
    found him in like 30 seconds

    EDIT: without looking at the programming part
    [9/3/12 11:11:58 PM] Joanna: sigh
    [9/3/12 11:12:14 PM] Joanna: john
    [9/3/12 11:12:16 PM] Joanna: is
    [9/3/12 11:12:17 PM] Joanna: perfect

  6. #6

    Joined
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    488
    Thanks
    303
    Thanked
    559/263
    DL/UL
    13/4
    Mentioned
    34 times
    Time Online
    1h 58m
    Avg. Time Online
    N/A
    Quote Originally Posted by john View Post
    found him in like 30 seconds

    EDIT: without looking at the programming part
    The point was discussing an algorithm to find waldo

  7. #7
    Inq's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    461
    Userbars
    2
    Thanks
    150
    Thanked
    227/143
    DL/UL
    12/0
    Mentioned
    97 times
    Time Online
    9h 29m
    Avg. Time Online
    N/A
    If people are good at solving these puzzles, obviously it only means that they have their own subconscious algorithms that they've learn to automate. From a pre-programming point of view, I think it's important to pinpoint what those internalised methods might be.

    Initially, I had the same idea as Joe, but it's true that there are other characters that wear glasses. I'm also very critical of the stripe algorithm which is posted on that site. Sure, it works for that image, but there is no way in hell that it works for all of them. Just look at all of the characters wearing red and white striped clothing: in a different puzzle, there will be people who have stripes which are closer together than Waldo's are. In this one, many come within only millimetres of being so.

    So, what else is there? Waldo always looks towards the reader. As far as I'm aware, only the "objective" characters do this, and it might only be Waldo. Surely there's a way to write an algorithm which searches for a pair of black dots in the dead centre of a pair of white circles? You'd look for black dots vaguely equidistant in all directions to black pixels.

    The only problem is that this method would require a higher resolution of picture: the scan provided is too blurry to see the whites of Waldo's eyes, so to speak. If this isn't possible, you'd probably have to combine Joe's idea with the stripe algorithm, in order to eliminate the odd freak similarity. That doesn't seem too difficult, in concept: simply check for the closest eyes to Waldo-like stripes.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •