  Indeed, these are exciting times. We are in the heart of a digital
renaissance. Automation and computer technology allow engineers and scientists
to fabricate processes that amalgamate quality of life. We anticipate much
growth in medical image interpretation and understanding, due to the influx of
computer technologies. This work should serve as a guide to introduce the
reader to core themes in theoretical computer science, as well as imaging
applications for understanding vocal-fold vibrations. In this work, we motivate
the use of automation, review some mathematical models of computation. We
present a proof of a classical problem in image analysis that cannot be
automated by means of algorithms. Furthermore, discuss some applications for
processing medical images of the vocal folds, and discuss some of the
exhilarating directions the art of automation will take vocal-fold image
interpretation and quite possibly other areas of biomedical image analysis.
