update README.md

Author: Michael Beyeler

README.md

@@ -1,2 +1,44 @@
-# opencv-python-blueprints
-OpenCV with Python Blueprints
+# OpenCV with Python Blueprints
+
+This repository contains all up-to-date source code for the following book:
+
+> M. Beyeler (2015). "OpenCV with Python Blueprints: Design and develop advanced computer vision projects using OpenCV
+> with Python". Packt Publishing Ltd., London, England, 230 pages, ISBN 978-178528269-0.
+
+All code was tested with OpenCV 2.4.9 and Python 2.7 on Ubuntu 14.04, and is available from:
+https://github.com/mbeyeler/opencv-python-blueprints.
+
+## Software Requirements
+All projects can run on Windows, Mac, or Linux, and require the following software packages:
+* OpenCV 2.4.9 or later: Recent 32-bit and 64-bit versions as well as installation instructions are available at
+http://opencv.org/downloads.html. Platform-specific installation instructions can be found at
+http://docs.opencv.org/doc/tutorials/introduction/table_of_content_introduction/table_of_content_introduction.html.
+* Python 2.7 or later: Recent 32-bit and 64-bit installers are available at https://www.python.org/downloads. The
+installation instructions can be found at https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Download.
+* NumPy 1.9.2 or later: This package for scientific computing officially comes in 32-bit format only, and can be
+obtained from http://www.scipy.org/scipylib/download.html. The installation instructions can be found at 
+http://www.scipy.org/scipylib/building/index.html#building.
+* wxPython 2.8 or later: This GUI programming toolkit can be obtained from http://www.wxpython.org/download.php.
+Its installation instructions are given at http://wxpython.org/builddoc.php.
+
+In addition, some chapters require the following free Python modules:
+* SciPy 0.16.0 or later (Chapter 1): This scientific Python library officially comes in 32-bit only, and can be obtained
+from http://www.scipy.org/scipylib/download.html. The installation instructions can be found at
+http://www.scipy.org/scipylib/building/index.html#building.
+* matplotlib 1.4.3 or later (Chapters 4 to 7): This 2D plotting library can be obtained from
+http://matplotlib.org/downloads.html. Its installation instructions can be found by going to
+http://matplotlib.org/faq/installing_faq.html#how-to-install.
+* libfreenect 0.5.2 or later (Chapter 2): The libfreenect module by the OpenKinect project (http://www.openkinect.org)
+provides drivers and libraries for the Microsoft Kinect hardware, and can be obtained from
+https://github.com/OpenKinect/libfreenect. Its installation instructions can be found at
+http://openkinect.org/wiki/Getting_Started.
+
+Furthermore, the use of iPython (http://ipython.org/install.html) is highly recommended as it provides a flexible,
+interactive console interface.
+
+## License
+The software is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which is the most commonly used free software
+license according to Wikipedia. GPL allows for commercial use, distribution, modification, patent use, and private use.
+
+The GPL is a copyleft license, which means that derived works can only be distributed under the same license terms.
+For more information, please see the license file.