To the reader

The Machine Vision Group of the University of Oulu has reached the honorable age of 25 years. In that time, it has developed into the most well-known community of experts in this field of research in Finland, and has also been widely recognized and respected internationally. The results of the group’s research have been applied to a great extent in the industry as well as other research groups both domestically and abroad.

This 25th anniversary book presents the quarter-of-a-century success story of the group, from its foundation and early years until the leading-edge research of today. Separate chapters account for the most significant scientific accomplishments, the collaboration with the industry, and the perspectives of future research. The book also allows previous employees to explain how they now can utilize the training obtained in the group in their new challenges.

A majority of the book consists of an impressive selection of the group’s most important and most merited scientific publications in their original form. The end section includes statistical data of the theses produced on machine vision. The 25th anniversary book is directed to everyone interested in machine vision and Oulu expertise in the field. The book gives an excellent example of how there is no shortcut to top-of-the-line research, but it can only be created through years of persistent research activity. Although the approach in the scientific publications is academic, the aim has been to write the initial part of the book in an easily comprehensible manner with numerous practical examples.

Besides the editors, the other contributors to the making of the book were Janne Heikkilä, Olli Silvén, Timo Ahonen, Esa Rahtu, and Jukka Kontinen. The layout was made by Pasi Kemi, and the language has been revised by Marko Pyhähuhta. The making of the book was sponsored by InX-Systems and Videra Ltd. We gratefully acknowledge the above-mentioned and other people who influenced the making of the book.

Happy reading!

Oulu, August 2006

Matti Pietikäinen

Hannakaisa Aikio

Kaisa Karppinen

Notice

The 17 publications reprinted for this book are not included in electronic version.