Conceptual development of form features and feature modelers

Feature definition, definition methods, properties, and representation are classified and formalized. Fundamental issues related to the definition and semantics of form features are explored. The concept of a form feature is progressively developed by consideration of dimensionality, contiguity, closure, finiteness, uniqueness, and representation. Issues related to feature-feature interactions are identified and the types of interactions classified. The consequences of viewpoint dependence of features and feature transformations are also discussed, specifically with regard to the possibility of feature standardization and data exchange.