Mid Sweden University

The manufacturing of high-quality extruded low-density polyethylene (PE) paperboard intended for the food packaging industry relies on manual, intrusive, and destructive off-line inspection by the process operators to assess the overall quality and functionality of the product. Defects such as cracks, pinholes, and local thickness variations in the coating can occur at any location in the reel, affecting the sealable property of the product. To detect these defects locally, imaging systems must discriminate between the substrate and the coating. We propose an active full-Stokes imaging polarimetry for the classification of the PE-coated paperboard and its substrate (before applying the PE coating) from industrially manufactured samples. The optical system is based on vertically polarized illumination and a novel full-Stokes imaging polarimetry camera system. From the various parameters obtained by polarimetry measurements, we propose implementing feature selection based on the distance correlation statistical method and, subsequently, the implementation of a support vector machine algorithm that uses a nonlinear Gaussian kernel function. Our implementation achieves 99.74% classification accuracy. An imaging polarimetry system with high spatial resolution and pixel-wise metrological characteristics to provide polarization information, capable of material classification, can be used for in-process control of manufacturing coated paperboard. 

In food packaging, low-density polyethylene (PE) coating is applied to paperboards to act as a functional barrier and to provide the smoothness required to enhance printability. These characteristics are related to the material’s surface roughness, the parameter monitored during the manufacturing process. Measurement of surface roughness using optical profilometry has gained importance in the paper industry. The optical instruments used to measure surface roughness are limited spatially by the relationship with the light wavelength at which they operate. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is an alternative for overcoming the spatial resolution limitation, and the use of stereo-photogrammetry on SEM images can be seen as an alternative profilometry technique to measure surface roughness. In this investigation, the surface topography of industrially manufactured high-quality PE-coated paperboard was studied, comparing the SEM stereo-photogrammetry technique with a reference profilometry method, i. e., chromatic confocal microscopy (CCM). We found close agreement between the calculated surface roughness and the results of the techniques used and compared them according to the new ISO 25178 Geometric Product Specifications. We concluded that SEM stereo-photogrammetry provides comparable accurate alternative profilometry method for characterizing the surface roughness of PE-coated paperboard in the micrometer scale.

Virtual and augmented reality is increasingly prevalent in industrial applications, such as remote control of industrial machinery, due to recent advances in head-mounted display technologies and low-latency communications via 5G. However, the influence of augmentations and camera placement-based viewing positions on operator performance in telepresence systems remains unknown. In this paper, we investigate the joint effects of depth-aiding augmentations and viewing positions on the quality of experience for operators in augmented telepresence systems. A study was conducted with 27 non-expert participants using a real-time augmented telepresence system to perform a remote-controlled navigation and positioning task, with varied depth-aiding augmentations and viewing positions. The resulting quality of experience was analyzed via Likert opinion scales, task performance measurements, and simulator sickness evaluation. Results suggest that reducing the reliance on stereoscopic depth perception via camera placement has a significant benefit to operator performance and quality of experience. Conversely, the depth-aiding augmentations can partly mitigate the negative effects of inferior viewing positions. However the viewing-position based monoscopic and stereoscopic depth cues tend to dominate over cues based on augmentations. There is also a discrepancy between the participants’ subjective opinions on augmentation helpfulness, and its observed effects on positioning task performance.

In this article, we have investigated a VR simulator of a forestry crane used for loading logs onto a truck. We have mainly studied the Quality of Experience (QoE) aspects that may be relevant for task completion, and whether there are any discomfort related symptoms experienced during the task execution. QoE experiments were designed to capture the general subjective experience of using the simulator, and to study task performance. The focus was to study the effects of latency on the subjective experience, with regards to delays in the crane control interface. Subjective studies were performed with controlled delays added to the display update and hand controller (joystick) signals. The added delays ranged from 0 to 30 ms for the display update, and from 0 to 800 ms for the hand controller. We found a strong effect on latency in the display update and a significant negative effect for 800 ms added delay on latency in the hand controller (in total approx. 880 ms latency including the system delay). The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) gave significantly higher scores after the experiment compared to before the experiment, but a majority of the participants reported experiencing only minor symptoms. Some test subjects ceased the test before finishing due to their symptoms, particularly due to the added latency in the display update.

In this study, we investigate a VR simulator of a forestry crane used for loading logs onto a truck, mainly looking at Quality of Experience (QoE) aspects that may be relevant for task completion, but also whether there are any discomfort related symptoms experienced during task execution. A QoE test has been designed to capture both the general subjective experience of using the simulator and to study task performance. Moreover, a specific focus has been to study the effects of latency on the subjective experience, with regards to delays in the crane control interface. A formal subjective study has been performed where we have added controlled delays to the hand controller (joystick) signals. The added delays ranged from 0 ms to 800 ms. We found no significant effects of delays on the task performance on any scales up to 200 ms. A significant negative effect was found for 800 ms added delay. The Symptoms reported in the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) was significantly higher for all the symptom groups, but a majority of the participants reported only slight symptoms. Two out of thirty test persons stopped the test before finishing due to their symptoms.

In this paper, we investigate how different viewing positions affect a user's Quality of Experience (QoE) and performance in an immersive telepresence system. A QoE experiment has been conducted with 27 participants to assess the general subjective experience and the performance of remotely operating a toy excavator. Two view positions have been tested, an overhead and a ground-level view, respectively, which encourage reliance on stereoscopic depth cues to different extents for accurate operation. Results demonstrate a significant difference between ground and overhead views: the ground view increased the perceived difficulty of the task, whereas the overhead view increased the perceived accomplishment as well as the objective performance of the task. The perceived helpfulness of the overhead view was also significant according to the participants.

Förstudien syftar till att tillsammans med MittSverige Vatten & Avfall (MSVA) ta fram verktyg för att informera om vinsterna med källsortering och påverka för att nå en bättre, mer hållbar avfallshantering i Sundsvall. En hållbar avfallshantering bidrar till att ge förutsättningar för en hållbartillväxt och god livsmiljö i Sundsvall. I förstudien presenteras exempel och förslag på hur visualiseringar kan bidra till att förbättra avfallshanteringen i Sundsvalls kommun. Inom ramen för studien har också en Återbruksfestival genomförts i syfte att undersöka och uppmärksamma vad som slängs samt ge konkreta exempel på återvinning och återbruk. Vidare genomfördes ett seminarium baserat på underliggande arbete kring hur papper och kartong kan användas som material för att ersätta hushållsförpackningar i plast. Förstudien utgör också en del i arbetet mot visionen att initiera forskning i samverkan med de aktörer i regionen som kan se nytta av design och visualisering i sin egen verksamhet. Förstudien har också bidragit till att ge underlag för framtida inriktningar, förutsättningar, och forskningsfrågor inom visualisering och design.

Den här studiens syfte har varit tvåfaldigt, nämligen att testa alternativa lärmetoder via ett digitalt läromedel i matematik i en kvasiexperimentell studie samt att tillämpa metoder av användarupplevelser för interaktiva visualiseringar, och därigenom öka kunskapen kring hur upplevd kvalitet beror på använd teknik. Pilotstudien sätter också fokus på flera angelägna områden inom skolutveckling både regionalt och nationellt samt viktiga aspekter när det gäller kopplingen teknik, pedagogik och utvärderingsmetoder inom “den tekniska delen”. Det förra handlar om sjunkande matematikresultat i skolan, praktiknära skolforskning, stärkt digital kompetens, visualisering och lärande samt forskning om visualisering och utvärdering. Den senare svarar på frågor om vilka tekniska lösningar som tidigare använts och med vilket syfte har de skapats samt hur visualiseringar har utvärderats enligt läroböcker och i forskningslitteratur.

När det gäller elevernas resultat, en av de stora forskningsfrågorna i studien, så fann vi inga signifikanta skillnader mellan traditionell undervisning och undervisning med visualiseringsläromedlet (3D). Beträffande elevers attityder till matematikmomentet kan konstateras att i kontrollgruppen för årskurs 6 förbättrades attityden signifikans, men inte i klass 8. Gällande flickors och pojkars resultat och attityder kan vi konstatera att flickorna i båda klasserna hade bättre förkunskaper än pojkarna samt att i årskurs 6 var flickorna mer positiva till matematikmomentet än pojkarna i kontrollgruppen. Därutöver kan vi inte skönja några signifikanta skillnader. Andra viktiga rön i studien var att provkonstruktionen inte var optimal samt att tiden för provgenomförande har stor betydelse när på dagen det genomfördes. Andra resultat resultaten i den kvalitativa analysen pekar på positiva attityder och beteenden från eleverna vid arbetet med det visuella läromedlet. Elevernas samarbete och kommunikation förbättrades under lektionerna. Vidare pekade lärarna på att med 3D-läromedlet gavs större möjligheter till att stimulera flera sinnen under lärprocessen. En tydlig slutsats är att 3D-läromedlet är ett viktigt komplement i undervisningen, men kan inte användas helt självt.

Vi kan varken sälla oss till de forskare som anser att 3D-visualisering är överlägset som läromedel för elevers resultat eller till de forskare som varnar för dess effekter för elevers kognitiva överbelastning.  Våra resultat ligger mer i linje med de slutsatser Skolforskningsinstitutet (2017) drar, nämligen att undervisning med digitala läromedel i matematik kan ha positiva effekter, men en lika effektiv undervisning kan möjligen designas på andra sätt. Däremot pekar resultaten i vår studie på ett flertal störningsmoment som kan ha påverkat möjliga resultat och behovet av god teknologin och välutvecklade programvaror.

I studien har vi analyserat resultaten med hjälp av två övergripande ramverk för integrering av teknikstöd i lärande, SAMR och TPACK. Det förra ramverket bidrog med en taxonomi vid diskussionen av hur väl teknikens möjligheter tagits tillvara av läromedel och i läraktiviteter, det senare för en diskussion om de didaktiska frågeställningarna med fokus på teknikens roll. Båda aspekterna är högaktuella med tanke på den ökande digitaliseringen i skolan.

Utifrån tidigare forskning och denna pilotstudie förstår vi att det är viktigt att designa forskningsmetoderna noggrant. En randomisering av grupper vore önskvärt. Prestandamått kan också vara svåra att välja. Tester där personer får utvärdera användbarhet (usability) och användarupplevelse (user experience, UX) baserade på både kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoder blir viktiga för själva användandet av tekniken, men det måste till ytterligare utvärderingar för att koppla tekniken och visualiseringen till kvaliteten i lärandet och undervisningen. Flera metoder behövs således och det blir viktigt med samarbete mellan olika ämnen och discipliner.

Recently, there has been an increase of data visualizations and in the diversity of forms. In parallel, design research has developed over the last decades. However, there have been few academic publications in the area of design specifically focusing on visualization research. In this poster, we present an overview of design research within the field of visualization in order to investigate key research areas and possible directions for future work.

Coating paperboard enhances printability and optical quality of the product as well as other important properties like packaging performance and shelf-life. To obtain high quality products a quality control of the manufacturing process requires identifying those manufacturing parameters that affect it. Roughness measurement and characterization of coating thickness are examples of these control parameters. Optical instruments measuring these quantities range from laboratory equipment to in-line and on-line sensors. However, the variety of instruments and sometimes misunderstanding of their limitations generate uncorrelated measurements, which are no longer valid to their comparison. The new ISO 25178 standard for surface texture provides guidelines to metrologists to address some this problem. Here, we report a case study for surface characterization of high quality printing polyethylene (PE) coated paperboard for high quality printing, where surface roughness is a key parameter. Two imaging methods to create topographic measurements will be compared, i.e. a confocal chromatic microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). For the latter, stereo photogrammetry is used and 3D topographic profiles are obtained from Alicona MeX software. Leach and Haitjema [Leach, R., & Haitjema, H. (2010). Bandwidth characteristics and comparisons of surface texture measuring instruments. Measurement Science and Technology, 21(3), 032001] addressed the topic on how to design comparisons when using different instruments for areal texture measurement. We use their bandwidth matching concept, since it provides an extension to the ISO 25178 guidelines, ensuring that the instrumentation used to characterize the samples are within its measuring limits and further analysis of the results can be correlated. It is important to adopt a good metrology practice in order to translate these parameters into our future work. We expect to extend these findings into a real-time optical sensor, which later can be implemented in an industrial manufacturing environment for high optical quality paper and paperboard.