Tracking can refer to multiple concepts:
- When processing a video sequence, tracking consists in finding the location of an object of the scene on each frame of the sequence.
- Tracking is a portfolio management tool, used for example by index funds, so that the portfolio value always mirror the evolution of a stock market index.
- In hunting, Tracking is the science and art of learning about a place via animal trails and everything else there. Specifically, mapping a changing landscape and soaking up sensory data like a sponge. The later goal to be further understanding of the systems and patterns around you, including that of the animal life. So called master trackers are able to know an animal through its tracks and trails. These include not only identification and interpretation of tracks, but also scat, feathers, kills, scratching posts, trails, drag marks, sounds, marking posts, and more. There's a story in most of these marks to be found, as there are in our day to day lives. Tracking has been traditionally practiced for thousands of years by the majority of tribal peoples all across the worlds. Similarly, tracking is the action of a dog following a scent trail.
- In logistics, tracking is the process of uniformly building a track of objects that are forwarded to, processed for, applied in or disposed of usage. The obtained track hence is a map depicted or coordinates listed in real-time of the reckoned locations of the respective object.
- Tracking originally is subject of reckoning, concerning setting up a track on other objects momentarily viewed from the observer's own location.
- A related concept is that of tracing, which uniformly describes the process of retrospectively generating a trace.
- Tracking should not be used synonymously to tracing in logistics. Both terms are used in conjunction as Tracking and Tracing for imposing control on performing services of logistics.
- Small target tracking is a process to trace targets' dynamic states (eq. position, velocity, acceleration) and their identities by means of sensor measurements. Commonly, it is a combined process of state estimation and data association. See Traffic object tracking.
- In typography, tracking is the process of uniformly increasing or decreasing the space between all glyphs (letters) in a block of text.
- In reference to VCRs, tracking means the alignment of the magnetic tape with respect to the reading head. Particularly in earlier two-head VCRs, tracking was very important for proper playback. Most VCRs have controls for tracking, either manual, automatic, or a combination of the two.
External Links