A Computer Vision Framework For Finger-Tapping Evaluation In Parkinson's Disease

Objective: To define and evaluate a Computer-Vision (CV) method for scoring Paced Finger-Tapping (PFT) in Parkinson's disease (PD) using quantitative motion analysis of index-fingers and to compare the obtained scores to the UPDRS (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) finger-taps (FT). Background: The naked-eye evaluation of PFT in clinical practice results in coarse resolution to determine PD status. Besides, sensor mechanisms for PFT evaluation may cause patients discomfort. In order to avoid cost and effort of applying wearable sensors, a CV system for non-invasive PFT evaluation is introduced. Methods: A database of 221 PFT videos from 6 PD patients was processed. The subjects were instructed to position their hands above their shoulders besides the face and tap the index-finger against the thumb consistently with speed. They were facing towards a pivoted camera during recording. The videos were rated by two clinicians between symptom levels 0-to-3 using UPDRS-FT. The CV method incorporates a motion analyzer and a face detector. The method detects the face of testee in each video-frame. The frame is split into two images from face-rectangle center. Two regions of interest are located in each image to detect index-finger motion of left and right hands respectively. The tracking of opening and closing phases of dominant hand index-finger produces a tapping time-series. This time-series is normalized by the face height. The normalization calibrates the amplitude in tapping signal which is affected by the varying distance between camera and subject (farther the camera, lesser the amplitude). A total of 15 features were classified using K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier to characterize the symptoms levels in UPDRS-FT. The target ratings provided by the raters were averaged. Results: A 10-fold cross validation in KNN classified 221 videos between 3 symptom levels with 75% accuracy. An area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 82.6% supports feasibility of the obtained features to replicate clinical assessments. Conclusions: The system is able to track index-finger motion to estimate tapping symptoms in PD. It has certain advantages compared to other technologies (e.g. magnetic sensors, accelerometers etc.) for PFT evaluation to improve and automate the ratings

Image processing technique to count the number of logs in a timber truck

This paper summarises the results of using image processing technique to get information about the load of timber trucks before their arrival using digital images or geo tagged images. Once the images are captured and sent to sawmill by drivers from forest, we can predict their arrival time using geo tagged coordinates, count the number of (timber) logs piled up in a truck, identify their type and calculate their diameter. With this information we can schedule and prioritise the inflow and unloading of trucks in the light of production schedules and raw material stocks available at the sawmill yard. It is important to keep all the actors in a supply chain integrated coordinated, so that optimal working routines can be reached in the sawmill yard.   

Identity and image – the story of expertise in a manufacturing company

This thesis is an investigation on the corporate identity of the firm SSAB from a managerial viewpoint (1), the company communication through press releases (2), and the image of the company as portrayed in news press articles (3). The managerial view of the corporate identity is researched through interviews with a communication manager of SSAB (1), the corporate communication is researched through press releases from the company (2) and the image is researched in news press articles (3). The results have been deducted using content analysis. The three dimensions are compared in order to see if the topics are coherent. This work builds on earlier research in corporate identity and image research, stakeholder theory, corporate communication and media reputation theory. This is interesting to research as the image of the company framed by the media affects, among other things, the possibility for the company to attract new talent and employees. If there are different stories, or topics, told in the three dimensions then the future employees may not share the view of the company with the managers in it. The analysis show that there is a discrepancy between the topics on the three dimensions, both between the corporate identity and the communication through press releases, as well as between the communication through press releases and the image in news press articles.

Convex Hulls in Image Processing : A Scoping Review

The demands of image processing related systems are robustness, high recognition rates, capability to handle incomplete digital information, and magnanimous flexibility in capturing shape of an object in an image. It is exactly here that, the role of convex hulls comes to play. The objective of this paper is twofold. First, we summarize the state of the art in computational convex hull development for researchers interested in using convex hull image processing to build their intuition, or generate nontrivial models. Secondly, we present several applications involving convex hulls in image processing related tasks. By this, we have striven to show researchers the rich and varied set of applications they can contribute to. This paper also makes a humble effort to enthuse prospective researchers in this area. We hope that the resulting awareness will result in new advances for specific image recognition applications.

Musikalisk gestaltning av en ”image” : - En fallstudie i design av narrativ mediemusik -

Studien ligger inom ramen för Ljud- och musikproduktion och bygger på ett case där en varumärkesmelodi/ musiklogotype till ett musikgymnasium ska designas. Syftet med studien är att utforska hur en image kan gestaltas musikaliskt och däri bättre förstå hur forskning genom design och användarmedverkan - påverkar och bidrar till processen inom design av narrativ mediemusik. Studien har ämnat svara på den övergripande frågeställningen: Hur kan komposition av narrativ musik beskrivas och genomföras som en designprocess? Forskningsfrågan innefattar även subfrågorna: Hur bidrar användarmedverkan till arbetsprocess vid design av narrativ mediemusik? Hur bidrar gruppsammansättning, själva processen och processverktygen till ett musikaliskt relevant resultat? Med formuleringen "ett musikaliskt relevant resultat" avses i studiens kontext en musikalisk prototyp/slutprodukt som har potential att kunna uttrycka känslor och värderingar som kan överensstämma med varumärkets (skolans) image och formulerade värderubriker. Kärnan i arbetet ligger inom fälten forskning genom design och användarmedverkan, där deltagarna under arbetsprocessens gång kontinuerligt och i flera processteg bidragit genom diskussioner, reaktioner, resonemang och konkreta förslag. Studien visar att designarbete inom narrativ mediamusik tillsammans med representanter för användarna/ målgruppen kan generera fler idéer om aspekter specifika för arbete med design av narrativ mediemusik samt bidra till större förståelse för aktuella kontexter (målgrupps-relaterade och process-relaterade kontexter såväl som musikaliska och genre-relaterade kontexter), än om designern arbetar ensam. Av vikt är att under designprocessen ta fram flera versioner av prototyperna, att göra olika instrumenteringar och interpretationer av det musikaliska materialet, där ett av målen med prototyperna är att designer stegvis lär sig vad som fungerar - vad som skapar en klingande mening i den aktuella målrelaterade kontexten - och ett sätt att kommunicera den här kunskapen är att designa och pröva flera olika prototyper i klingade form.