Introduction

This book gives an introduction to the discrete wavelet transform, and to some of its generalizations. The transforms are defined and interpreted. Some examples of applications are given, and the implementation on the computer is described in detail. The book is limited to the discrete wavelet transform, which means that the continuous version of the wavelet transform is not presented at all. One of the reasons for this choice is the intention that the book should be accessible to readers with rather modest mathematical prerequisites. Another reason is that for readers with good mathematical prerequisites there exists a large number of excellent books presenting the continuous (and often also the discrete) versions of the wavelet transform.