Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
program on the PC. Java enabled ImageJ to be platform-independent
and its free distribution made it suitable to roll out as an imaging platform
across a wide network of imaging enthusiasts without restrictive licensing
issues.
5.2 ImageJ
ImageJ (J for Java) evolved from NIH image, was developed at the
National Institutes of Health by Wayne Rasband [4] and has developed a
large global following since being released in 1997. It was conceived with
an open architecture that could be extended through Java scripts, plug-
ins and recordable macros. Custom acquisition, analysis and processing
can be created with ImageJ's built-in editor and Java compiler. ImageJ is
platform-independent and only requires Java 5 or a later virtual machine.
It can run on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Mac OS X and Linux, and
its source code is freely available [4].
As ImageJ is open source, an ImageJ user has the four essential freedoms
defi ned by Richard Stallman in 1986 [5]. First, the freedom to run the
program, for any purpose. Second, the freedom to study how the program
works, and change it to make it do what you wish. Third, the freedom to
redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour. Lastly, the freedom
to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so
that the whole community benefi ts.
In addition to the many freely available macros, plug-ins and scripts,
commercially available plug-ins have been developed for which a licence
needs to be purchased. For example, Image-Pro Plus from Media
Cybernetics is a commercially available ImageJ plug-in [6].
5.2.1 The many faces of ImageJ
The customisable nature of ImageJ has allowed users to design
custom user interfaces, such as NeuronJ shown in Figure 5.1. Note that
the menu titles remain the same but the bottoms can have custom
icons that link to particular functionality imparted by linked scripts or
macros.
Alternatively, ImageJ can be customised by the production of custom
folders in the plug-in menu, such as used for the astronomy plug-ins
shown in Figure 5.2 [8].
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