Alhazen and the nearest neighbor rule

We show that a clear formulation of the nearest neighbor decision rule for pattern classification can be found, along with other remarkably modern ideas, in an influential medieval treatise on visual perception authored by Alhazen, one of the major figures in the so-called "Islamic golden age." To put the work in context we provide also a brief description of some of the salient points of Alhazen's theory. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We show that a clear formulation of the nearest neighbor decision rule for pattern classification can be found, along with other remarkably modern ideas, in an influential medieval treatise on visual perception authored by Alhazen, one of the major figures in the so-called "Islamic golden age." To put the work in context we provide also a brief description of some of the salient points of Alhazen's theory.