showing 64 related works from this author
A spatial algorithm to reduce phase wraps from two dimensional signals in fringe projection profilometry
2016
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm to reduce the number of phase wraps in two dimensional signals in fringe projection profilometry. The technique operates in the spatial domain, and achieves a significant computational saving with regard to existing methods based on frequency shifting. The method works by estimating the modes of the first differences distribution in each axial direction. These are used to generate a tilted plane, which is subtracted from the entire phase map. Finally, the result is re-wrapped to obtain a phase map with fewer wraps. The method may be able to completely eliminate the phase wraps in many cases, or can achieve…
A naive relevance feedback model for content-based image retrieval using multiple similarity measures
2010
This paper presents a novel probabilistic framework to process multiple sample queries in content based image retrieval (CBIR). This framework is independent from the underlying distance or (dis)similarity measures which support the retrieval system, and only assumes mutual independence among their outcomes. The proposed framework gives rise to a relevance feedback mechanism in which positive and negative data are combined in order to optimally retrieve images according to the available information. A particular setting in which users interactively supply feedback and iteratively retrieve images is set both to model the system and to perform some objective performance measures. Several repo…
A software system to teach economics to secondary school and first year engineering students
2009
[EN] In this paper, we present a graphical user interface which has been devised to teach the basic concepts of economics in secondary schools and first year engineering courses. The application allows students to vary certain parameters and visually observe the effect on the supply and demand curves. The system has been developed in Matlab and employed in a secondary school in Spain. The first results are presented.
A relevance feedback CBIR algorithm based on fuzzy sets
2008
CBIR (content-based image retrieval) systems attempt to allow users to perform searches in large picture repositories. In most existing CBIR systems, images are represented by vectors of low level features. Searches in these systems are usually based on distance measurements defined in terms of weighted combinations of the low level features. This paper presents a novel approach to combining features when using multi-image queries consisting of positive and negative selections. A fuzzy set is defined so that the degree of membership of each image in the repository to this fuzzy set is related to the user's interest in that image. Positive and negative selections are then used to determine t…
Clustering-based robust three-dimensional phase unwrapping algorithm
2010
Relatively recent techniques that produce phase volumes have motivated the study of three-dimensional (3D) unwrapping algorithms that inherently incorporate the third dimension into the process. We propose a novel 3D unwrapping algorithm that can be considered to be a generalization of the minimum spanning tree (MST) approach. The technique combines characteristics of some of the most robust existing methods: it uses a quality map to guide the unwrapping process, a region growing mechanism to progressively unwrap the signal, and also cut surfaces to avoid error propagation. The approach has been evaluated in the context of noncontact measurement of dynamic objects, suggesting a better perfo…
A Linear Cost Algorithm to Compute the Discrete Gabor Transform
2010
In this paper, we propose an alternative efficient method to calculate the Gabor coefficients of a signal given a synthesis window with a support of size much lesser than the length of the signal. The algorithm uses the canonical dual of the window (which does not need to be calculated beforehand) and achieves a computational cost that is linear with the signal length in both analysis and synthesis. This is done by exploiting the block structure of the matrices and using an ad hoc Cholesky decomposition of the Gabor frame matrix.
Fast fringe pattern phase demodulation using FIR Hilbert transformers
2016
This paper suggests the use of FIR Hilbert transformers to extract the phase of fringe patterns. This method is computationally faster than any known spatial method that produces wrapped phase maps. Also, the algorithm does not require any parameters to be adjusted which are dependent upon the specific fringe pattern that is being processed, or upon the particular setup of the optical fringe projection system that is being used. It is therefore particularly suitable for full algorithmic automation. The accuracy and validity of the suggested method has been tested using both computer-generated and real fringe patterns. This novel algorithm has been proposed for its advantages in terms of com…
A NSGA Based Approach for Content Based Image Retrieval
2013
The purpose of CBIR Content Based Image Retrieval systems is to allow users to retrieve pictures related to a semantic concept of their interest, when no other information but the images themselves is available. Commonly, a series of images are presented to the user, who judges on their relevance. Several different models have been proposed to help the construction of interactive systems based on relevance feedback. Some of these models consider that an optimal query point exists, and focus on adapting the similarity measure and moving the query point so that it appears close to the relevant results and far from those which are non-relevant. This implies a strong causality between the low l…
Emulating Human Supervision in an Intelligent Tutoring System for Arithmetical Problem Solving
2014
This paper presents an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for the learning of arithmetical problem solving. This is based on an analysis of a) the cognitive processes that take place during problem solving; and b) the usual tasks performed by a human when supervising a student in a one-to-one tutoring situation. The ITS is able to identify the solving strategy that the student is following and offer adaptive feedback that takes into account both the problem's constraints and the decisions previously made by the user. An observational study shows the ITS's accuracy at emulating expert human supervision, and a randomized experiment reveals that the ITS significantly improves students' learning…
An Intra-Subject Approach Based on the Application of HMM to Predict Concentration in Educational Contexts from Nonintrusive Physiological Signals in…
2021
Previous research has proven the strong influence of emotions on student engagement and motivation. Therefore, emotion recognition is becoming very relevant in educational scenarios, but there is no standard method for predicting students’ affects. However, physiological signals have been widely used in educational contexts. Some physiological signals have shown a high accuracy in detecting emotions because they reflect spontaneous affect-related information, which is fresh and does not require additional control or interpretation. Most proposed works use measuring equipment for which applicability in real-world scenarios is limited because of its high cost and intrusiveness. To tackle this…
A group-theory method to find stationary states in nonlinear discrete symmetry systems
2010
In the field of nonlinear optics, the self-consistency method has been applied to searching optical solitons in different media. In this paper, we generalize this method to other systems, adapting it to discrete symmetry systems by using group theory arguments. The result is a new technique that incorporates symmetry concepts into the iterative procedure of the self-consistency method, that helps the search of symmetric stationary solutions. An efficient implementation of this technique is also presented, which restricts the computational work to a reduced section of the entire domain and is able to find different types of solutions by specifying their symmetry properties. As a practical ap…
Serious Games for Health and Safety Training
2011
EUROSTAT figures show that 5720 people die in the European Union every year as a consequence of work-related accidents. Training in Health and Safety is indeed a key aspect to reduce this figure, and serious games constitute an effective method to provide this training. However, the development of this type of computer applications is a complex issue, requiring cross discipline knowledge on different areas, including instructional design, psychology, sociology, law, and computer graphics. Beyond the challenges already present in the development of non-educational computer games, serious games for health and safety are instructional tools. Therefore, they require an instructional design to c…
BED: A new dataset for EEG-based biometrics
2021
Various recent research works have focused on the use of electroencephalography (EEG) signals in the field of biometrics. However, advances in this area have somehow been limited by the absence of a common testbed that would make it possible to easily compare the performance of different proposals. In this work, we present a data set that has been specifically designed to allow researchers to attempt new biometric approaches that use EEG signals captured by using relatively inexpensive consumer-grade devices. The proposed data set has been made publicly accessible and can be downloaded from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4309471 . It contains EEG recordings and responses from 21 individuals…
Cognitive Reasoning and Inferences through Psychologically based Personalised Modelling of Emotions Using Associative Classifiers
2014
The development of Microsoft Kinect opened up the research field of computational emotions to a wide range of applications, such as learning environments, which are excellent candidates to trial computational emotions based algorithms but were never feasible for given consumer technologies. Whilst Kinect is accessible and affordable technology it comes with its' own additional challenges such as the limited number of extracted Action Units (AUs). This paper presents a new approach that attempts at finding patterns of interaction between AUs and each other on one hand and patterns that link the related AUs to a given emotion. In doing so, this paper presents the ground work necessary to reac…
Domain-specific knowledge representation and inference engine for an intelligent tutoring system
2013
One of the most challenging steps in learning algebra is the translation of word problems into symbolic notation. This paper describes an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) that focuses on this stage of the problem solving process. On the one hand, a domain specific inference engine and a knowledge representation mechanism are proposed. These are based on a description language based on hypergraphs, and the idea of using conceptual schemes to represent the student's knowledge. As a result, the system is able to simultaneously: (a) represent all potential algebraic solutions to a given word problem; (b) keep track of the student's actions; (c) univocally determine the current state of the res…
Using System Dynamics to Model Student Performance in an Intelligent Tutoring System
2017
One basic adaptation function of an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) consists of selecting the most appropriate next task to be offered to the learner. This decision can be based on estimates, such as the expected performance of the student, or the probability that the student successfully solves each particular task. However, the computation of these values is intrinsically difficult, as they may depend on other complex latent variables that also need to be estimated from observable quantities, e.g. the current student's ability. In this work, we have used system dynamics to model learning and predict the student's performance in a given exercise, in an existing ITS that was developed to …
Combining similarity measures in content-based image retrieval
2008
The purpose of content based image retrieval (CBIR) systems is to allow users to retrieve pictures from large image repositories. In a CBIR system, an image is usually represented as a set of low level descriptors from which a series of underlying similarity or distance functions are used to conveniently drive the different types of queries. Recent work deals with combination of distances or scores from different and usually independent representations in an attempt to induce high level semantics from the low level descriptors of the images. Choosing the best method to combine these results requires a careful analysis and, in most cases, the use of ad-hoc strategies. Combination based on or…
Scalable Virtual Network Video-Optimizer for Adaptive Real-Time Video Transmission in 5G Networks
2020
The increasing popularity of video applications and ever-growing high-quality video transmissions (e.g., 4K resolutions), has encouraged other sectors to explore the growth of opportunities. In the case of health sector, mobile Health services are becoming increasingly relevant in real-time emergency video communication scenarios where a remote medical experts’ support is paramount to a successful and early disease diagnosis. To minimize the negative effects that could affect critical services in a heavily loaded network, it is essential for 5G video providers to deploy highly scalable and priorizable in-network video optimization schemes to meet the expectations of a large quantity of vide…
Improving distance based image retrieval using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm
2015
Image retrieval is formulated as a multiobjective optimization problem.A multiobjective genetic algorithm is hybridized with distance based search.A parameter balances exploration (genetic search) or exploitation (nearest neighbors).Extensive comparative experimentation illustrate and assess the proposed methodology. Relevance feedback has been adopted as a standard in Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR). One major difficulty that algorithms have to face is to achieve and adequate balance between the exploitation of already known areas of interest and the exploration of the feature space to find other relevant areas. In this paper, we evaluate different ways to combine two existing relevan…
An interactive evolutionary approach for content based image retrieval
2009
Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems aim to provide a means to find pictures in large repositories without using any other information except its contents usually as low-level descriptors. Since these descriptors do not exactly match the high level semantics of the image, assessing perceptual similarity between two pictures using only their feature vectors is not a trivial task. In fact, the ability of a system to induce high level semantic concepts from the feature vector of an image is one of the aspects which most influences its performance. This paper describes a CBIR algorithm which combines relevance feedback, evolutionary computation concepts and ad-hoc strategies in an attem…
Eigenexpressions: Emotion Recognition Using Multiple Eigenspaces
2013
This paper presents an appearance-based holistic method for expression recognition. A two stage supervised learning approach is used. At the first stage, training images are used to compute one subspace per expression. At the second stage, the same images are used to train a classifier. In this step, Euclidean distances from each image to each particular subspace are used as the input to the classifier. The resulting system significantly outperforms the baseline eigenfaces method on the Cohn-Kanade data set, with performance gains in the range 10%-20%.
About Combining Metric Learning and Prototype Generation
2014
Distance metric learning has been a major research topic in recent times. Usually, the problem is formulated as finding a Mahalanobis-like metric matrix that satisfies a set of constraints as much as possible. Different ways to introduce these constraints and to effectively formulate and solve the optimization problem have been proposed. In this work, we start with one of these formulations that leads to a convex optimization problem and generalize it in order to increase the efficiency by appropriately selecting the set of constraints. Moreover, the original criterion is expressed in terms of a reduced set of representatives that is learnt together with the metric. This leads to further im…
Domain Specific Knowledge Representation for an Intelligent Tutoring System to Teach Algebraic Reasoning
2012
Translation of word problems into symbolic notation is one of the most challenging steps in learning the algebraic method. This paper describes a domain-specific knowledge representation mechanism to support Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) which focus on this stage of the problem solving process. The description language proposed is based on the concept of a hypergraph and makes it possible to simultaneously a) represent all potential algebraic solutions to a given word problem; b) keep track of the student's actions; c) provide automatic remediation; and d) unequivocally determine the current state of the resolution process. An experimental evaluation with students at a public school su…
Adding sensor-free intention-based affective support to an Intelligent Tutoring System
2017
Abstract Emotional factors considerably influence learning and academic performance. In this paper, we validate the hypothesis that learning platforms can adjust their response to have an effect on the learner’s pleasure, arousal and/or dominance, without using a specific emotion detection system during operation. To this end, we have enriched an existing Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) by designing a module that is able to regulate the level of help provided to maximize valence, arousal or autonomy as desired. The design of this module followed a two-stage methodology. In the first stage, the ITS was adapted to collect data from several groups of students in primary education, by providi…
Single-channel EEG-based subject identification using visual stimuli
2021
Electroencephalography (EEG) signals have been recently proposed as a biometrics modality due to some inherent advantages over traditional biometric approaches. In this work, we studied the performance of individual EEG channels for the task of subject identification in the context of EEG-based biometrics using a recently proposed benchmark dataset that contains EEG recordings acquired under various visual and non-visual stimuli using a low-cost consumer-grade EEG device. Results showed that specific EEG electrodes provide consistently higher identification accuracy regardless of the feature and stimuli types used, while features based on the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) provi…
A hybrid multi-objective optimization algorithm for content based image retrieval
2013
Abstract Relevance feedback methods in CBIR (Content Based Image Retrieval) iteratively use relevance information from the user to search the space for other relevant samples. As several regions of interest may be scattered through the space, an effective search algorithm should balance the exploration of the space to find new potential regions of interest and the exploitation of areas around samples which are known relevant. However, many algorithms concentrate the search on areas which are close to the images that the user has marked as relevant, according to a distance function in the (possibly deformed) multidimensional feature space. This maximizes the number of relevant images retriev…
Hybrid robust and fast algorithm for three-dimensional phase unwrapping
2009
We present a hybrid three-dimensional (3D) unwrapping algorithm that combines the strengths of two other fast and robust existing techniques. In particular, a branch-cut surface algorithm and a path-following method have been integrated in a symbiotic way, still keeping execution times within a range that permits their use in real-time applications that need a relatively fast solution to the problem. First, branch-cut surfaces are calculated, disregarding partial residue loops that end at the boundary of the 3D phase volume. These partial loops are then used to define a quality for each image voxel. Finally, unwrapping proceeds along a path determined by a minimum spanning tree (MST). The M…
Shifting of wrapped phase maps in the frequency domain using a rational number
2016
The number of phase wraps in an image can be either reduced, or completely eliminated, by transforming the image into the frequency domain using a Fourier transform, and then shifting the spectrum towards the origin. After this, the spectrum is transformed back to the spatial domain using the inverse Fourier transform and finally the phase is extracted using the arctangent function. However, it is a common concern that the spectrum can be shifted only by an integer number, meaning that the phase wrap reduction is often not optimal. In this paper we propose an algorithm than enables the spectrum to be frequency shifted by a rational number. The principle of the proposed method is confirmed b…
Data Analysis as a Tool for Optimizing Learning Management Systems
2009
The advent of the Internet has opened a scope for research in new methods and tools that may facilitate the teaching and learning processes. This has, in turn, led to the development of learning platforms to support teaching and learning activities. The market penetration of these has been such that nowadays most universities provide their academic community with some form of a learning management system (LMS).Although a lot of effort has been put into deploying these platforms, the usage statistics that they generally provide are not generally processed to optimize their use within a specific context or institution (or confronted with quality or innovation indexes to produce useful feedbac…
Robust three-dimensional best-path phase-unwrapping algorithm that avoids singularity loops.
2009
In this paper we propose a novel hybrid three-dimensional phase-unwrapping algorithm, which we refer to here as the three-dimensional best-path avoiding singularity loops (3DBPASL) algorithm. This algorithm combines the advantages and avoids the drawbacks of two well-known 3D phase-unwrapping algorithms, namely, the 3D phase-unwrapping noise-immune technique and the 3D phase-unwrapping best-path technique. The hybrid technique presented here is more robust than its predecessors since it not only follows a discrete unwrapping path depending on a 3D quality map, but it also avoids any singularity loops that may occur in the unwrapping path. Simulation and experimental results have shown that …
A generalized finite difference method using Coatmèlec lattices
2009
Generalized finite difference methods require that a properly posed set of nodes exists around each node in the mesh, so that the solution for the corresponding multivariate interpolation problem be unique. In this paper we first show that the construction of these meshes can be computerized using a relatively simple algorithm based on the concept of a Coatmelec lattice. Then, we present a generalized finite difference method which provides a numerical solution of a partial differential equation over an arbitrary domain, using the generated meshes. The accuracy and mesh adaptivity of the method is evaluated using elliptical equations in several domains.
Combining Inter-Subject Modeling with a Subject-Based Data Transformation to Improve Affect Recognition from EEG Signals
2019
Existing correlations between features extracted from Electroencephalography (EEG) signals and emotional aspects have motivated the development of a diversity of EEG-based affect detection methods. Both intra-subject and inter-subject approaches have been used in this context. Intra-subject approaches generally suffer from the small sample problem, and require the collection of exhaustive data for each new user before the detection system is usable. On the contrary, inter-subject models do not account for the personality and physiological influence of how the individual is feeling and expressing emotions. In this paper, we analyze both modeling approaches, using three public repositories. T…
Predicting human performance in interactive tasks by using dynamic models
2017
The selection of an appropriate sequence of activities is an essential task to keep student motivation and foster engagement. Usually, decisions in this respect are made by taking into account the difficulty of the activities, in relation to the student's level of competence. In this paper, we present a dynamic model that aims to predict the average performance of a group of students at solving a given series of maths problems. The system takes into account both student- and task-related features. This model was built and validated by using the data gathered in an experimental session that involved 64 participants solving a sequence of 26 arithmetic problems. The data collected from the fir…
Impact evaluation of reactive assessment strategies to address social loafing by promoting student cooperation and encouraging mutual support
2013
Cooperative work is an effective strategy when team members are kept motivated and collaborate towards the achievement of a common goal. However, social loafing may significantly reduce educational gains. In this article, we analyse whether assessment-based reactive strategies that exploit existing emotional relationships between the team members are effective as a response to unequal commitment in cooperative tasks. In particular, an adaptive negotiation process that permits students to improve their grades by improving future scores obtained by free riders is suggested. Findings support that these types of strategies may have a great impact in fostering peer tutoring, student cooperation …
Classification Similarity Learning Using Feature-Based and Distance-Based Representations: A Comparative Study
2015
Automatically measuring the similarity between a pair of objects is a common and important task in the machine learning and pattern recognition fields. Being an object of study for decades, it has lately received an increasing interest from the scientific community. Usually, the proposed solutions have used either a feature-based or a distance-based representation to perform learning and classification tasks. This article presents the results of a comparative experimental study between these two approaches for computing similarity scores using a classification-based method. In particular, we use the Support Vector Machine as a flexible combiner both for a high dimensional feature space and …
Distance-based relevance feedback using a hybrid interactive genetic algorithm for image retrieval
2011
Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems aim to provide a means to find pictures in large repositories without using any other information except the own content of the images, which is usually represented as a feature vector extracted from low-level descriptors. This paper describes a CBIR algorithm which combines relevance feedback, evolutionary computation concepts and distance-based learning in an attempt to reduce the existing gap between the high level semantic content of the images and the information provided by their low-level descriptors. In particular, a framework which is independent from the particular features used is presented. The effect of different crossover strategies…
An improved distance-based relevance feedback strategy for image retrieval
2013
Most CBIR (content based image retrieval) systems use relevance feedback as a mechanism to improve retrieval results. NN (nearest neighbor) approaches provide an efficient method to compute relevance scores, by using estimated densities of relevant and non-relevant samples in a particular feature space. In this paper, particularities of the CBIR problem are exploited to propose an improved relevance feedback algorithm based on the NN approach. The resulting method has been tested in a number of different situations and compared to the standard NN approach and other existing relevance feedback mechanisms. Experimental results evidence significant improvements in most cases.
Aiding phase unwrapping by increasing the number of residues in two-dimensional wrapped-phase distributions.
2015
In phase unwrapping residues are points of locally inconsistent phase that occur within a wrapped-phase map, which are usually regarded as being problematic for phase-unwrapping algorithms. Real phase maps typically contain a number of residues that are approximately proportional to the subsequent difficulty in unwrapping the phase distribution. This paper suggests the radical use of the discrete Fourier transform to actually increase the number of residues in 2D phase-wrapped images that contain discontinuities. Many of the additional residues that are artificially generated by this method are located on these discontinuities. For example, in fringe projection systems, such phase discontin…
Gui-driven intelligent tutoring system with affective support to help learning the algebraic method
2017
Despite many research efforts focused on the development of algebraic reasoning and the resolution of story problems, several investigations have reported that relatively advanced students experience serious difficulties in symbolizing certain meaningful relations by using algebraic equations. In this paper, we describe and justify the Graphical User Interface of an Intelligent Tutoring System that allows learning and practising the procedural aspects involved in translating the information contained in a story problem into a symbolic representation. The application design has been driven by cognitive findings from several previous investigations. First, the process of translating a word pr…
Some insights into the impact of affective information when delivering feedback to students
2018
The relation between affect-driven feedback and engagement on a given task has been largely investigated. This relation can be used to make personalised instructional decisions and/or modif...
Fundamentals of the design and the operation of an intelligent tutoring system for the learning of the arithmetical and algebraic way of solving word…
2013
Designers of interactive learning environments with a focus on word problem solving usually have to compromise between the amount of resolution paths that a user is allowed to follow and the quality of the feedback provided. We have built an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) that is able to both track the user's actions and provide adequate supervision during the resolution. This is done without imposing any restriction on the resolution paths that are allowed. Instead, the system attempts to enforce metacognitive learning by requiring an appropriate definition of quantities before they are used. The program (a) supports both the arithmetical and algebraic way of solving problems; (b) allow…
EEG-based biometrics: effects of template ageing
2020
This chapter discusses the effects of template ageing in EEG-based biometrics. The chapter also serves as an introduction to general biometrics and its main tasks: Identification and verification. To do so, we investigate different characterisations of EEG signals and examine the difference of performance in subject identification between single session and cross-session identification experiments. In order to do this, EEG signals are characterised with common state-of-the-art features, i.e. Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), Autoregression Coefficients, and Power Spectral Density-derived features. The samples were later classified using various classifiers, including Support Vecto…
Game-based learning supported by audience response tools: game proposals and preliminary assessment
2018
The so-called game-based learning strategies are based on introducing games in the classrooms to improve aspects such as student performance, concentration and effort. Currently, they provide a very useful resource to increase the motivation of university students, generating a better atmosphere among peers and between student and teacher, which in turn is generally translated into better academic results. However, the design of games that successfully achieve the desired teaching-learning objectives is not a trivial task. This work focuses on the design of games that allow the assessment of ICT-related university subjects. Specifically, three different games are proposed, all based on stud…
Steered Response Power Localization of Acoustic Passband Signals
2017
The vast majority of localization approaches using phase transform (PHAT) consider that the sources of interest are wideband low-pass sources. While this may be the usual case for common audio signals such as speech, PHAT methods are affected negatively by modulation artifacts when the sources to be localized are passband signals. In these cases, steered response power PHAT localization becomes less robust. This letter analyzes the form of generalized cross-correlation functions with PHAT when passband acoustic signals are considered, proposing approaches for increasing the localization performance through the mitigation of these negative effects.
A reconfigurable platform for evaluating the performance of QoS networks
2010
Nowadays, high performance System and Local Area Networks (SAN/LAN) have to serve heterogeneous traffic consisting of information flows with different bandwidth and latency requirements. This makes it necessary to provide Quality of Service (QoS) and optimize the design of network components. In this paper we present a hardware tool designed to analyze the performance of QoS networks, under given traffic conditions and server models. In particular, a reprogrammable multimedia traffic Generator/Monitor platform has been built. This permits prototyping the communication system of a high speed LAN/SAN on a single FPGA device. Hence, it can be used at design to produce more efficient devices. T…
On Incorporating Affective Support to an Intelligent Tutoring System: an Empirical Study
2018
Previous research studies have reported strong evidence that the emotional state of students may have a considerable impact on their learning. In this paper, we present an empirical study that evidences that it is possible to influence the user’s affective state in a controlled way, by adapting the system’s response. As part of this paper, we have analyzed the affective impact of varying the level of help provided in an existing Intelligent Tutoring System. Results show that it is possible to use classification approaches to predict positive and negative variations in dominance, valence, arousal, and performance to a reasonable level of accuracy.
Artificial intelligence for affective computing : an emotion recognition case study.
2020
This chapter provides an introduction on the benefits of artificial intelligence (Al) techniques for the field of affective computing, through a case study about emotion recognition via brain (electroencephalography EEG) signals. Readers are first pro-vided with a general description of the field, followed by the main models of human affect, with special emphasis to Russell's circumplex model and the pleasur-arousal-dominance (PAD) model. Finally, an AI-based method for the detection of affect elicited via multimedia stimuli is presented. The method combines both connectivity-and channel-based EEG features with a selection method that considerably reduces the dimensionality of the data and …
Image-Evoked Affect and its Impact on Eeg-Based Biometrics
2019
Electroencephalography (EEG) signals provide a representation of the brain’s activity patterns and have been recently exploited for user identification and authentication due to their uniqueness and their robustness to interception and artificial replication. Nevertheless, such signals are commonly affected by the individual’s emotional state. In this work, we examine the use of images as stimulus for acquiring EEG signals and study whether the use of images that evoke similar emotional responses leads to higher identification accuracy compared to images that evoke different emotional responses. Results show that identification accuracy increases when the system is trained with EEG recordin…
Interactive Image Retrieval Using Smoothed Nearest Neighbor Estimates
2010
Relevance feedback has been adopted by most recent Content Based Image Retrieval systems to reduce the semantic gap that exists between the subjective similarity among images and the similarity measures computed in a given feature space. Distance-based relevance feedback using nearest neighbors has been recently presented as a good tradeoff between simplicity and performance. In this paper, we analyse some shortages of this technique and propose alternatives that help improving the efficiency of the method in terms of the retrieval precision achieved. The resulting method has been evaluated on several repositories which use different feature sets. The results have been compared to those obt…
Filtering of Spontaneous and Low Intensity Emotions in Educational Contexts
2015
Affect detection is a challenging problem, even more in educational contexts, where emotions are spontaneous and usually subtle. In this paper, we propose a two-stage detection approach based on an initial binary discretization followed by a specific emotion prediction stage. The binary classification method uses several distinct sources of information to detect and filter relevant time slots from an affective point of view. An accuracy close to 75% at detecting whether the learner has felt an educationally relevant emotion on 20 second time slots has been obtained. These slots can then be further analyzed by a second classifier, to determine the specific user emotion.
Combining feature extraction and expansion to improve classification based similarity learning
2017
Abstract Metric learning has been shown to outperform standard classification based similarity learning in a number of different contexts. In this paper, we show that the performance of classification similarity learning strongly depends on the data format used to learn the model. We then present an Enriched Classification Similarity Learning method that follows a hybrid approach that combines both feature extraction and feature expansion. In particular, we propose a data transformation and the use of a set of standard distances to supplement the information provided by the feature vectors of the training samples. The method is compared to state-of-the-art feature extraction and metric lear…
Combining Supervised and Unsupervised Learning to Discover Emotional Classes
2017
Most previous work in emotion recognition has fixed the available classes in advance, and attempted to classify samples into one of these classes using a supervised learning approach. In this paper, we present preliminary work on combining supervised and unsupervised learning to discover potential latent classes which were not initially considered. To illustrate the potential of this hybrid approach, we have used a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) to organize a large number of Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from subjects watching videos, according to their internal structure. Results suggest that a more useful labelling scheme could be produced by analysing the resulting topology in relation t…
A Robust Wrap Reduction Algorithm for Fringe Projection Profilometry and Applications in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
2017
In this paper, we present an effective algorithm to reduce the number of wraps in a 2D phase signal provided as input. The technique is based on an accurate estimate of the fundamental frequency of a 2D complex signal with the phase given by the input, and the removal of a dependent additive term from the phase map. Unlike existing methods based on the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), the frequency is computed by using noise-robust estimates that are not restricted to integer values. Then, to deal with the problem of a non-integer shift in the frequency domain, an equivalent operation is carried out on the original phase signal. This consists of the subtraction of a tilted plane whose slop…
Learning Similarity Scores by Using a Family of Distance Functions in Multiple Feature Spaces
2017
There exist a large number of distance functions that allow one to measure similarity between feature vectors and thus can be used for ranking purposes. When multiple representations of the same object are available, distances in each representation space may be combined to produce a single similarity score. In this paper, we present a method to build such a similarity ranking out of a family of distance functions. Unlike other approaches that aim to select the best distance function for a particular context, we use several distances and combine them in a convenient way. To this end, we adopt a classical similarity learning approach and face the problem as a standard supervised machine lea…
Combinación de cuestionarios simples y gamificados utilizando gestores de participación en el aula: experiencia y percepción del alumnado
2017
[EN] The growing use of mobile devices has motivated the development of a wide range of applications to help manage the students’ participation in the classroom. Socrative allows the lecturer to use multiple-choice questionnaires in the classroom, either in a simple or a gamified mode (Space Race). In this paper, we describe our experience at using this tool to promote competitive learning, at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The student’s perception indicates that the use of the application helped at increasing engagement and motivation. However, relevant differences were found between both modes of use, underlining the importance of an adequate activity design.
A Hypergraph Based Framework for Intelligent Tutoring of Algebraic Reasoning
2013
The translation of word problems into equations is one of the major difficulties for students regarding problem solving. This paper describes both a domain-specific knowledge representation and an inference engine based on hypergraphs that permits intelligent student supervision of this stage of the solving process. The framework presented makes it possible to simultaneously: a) represent all potential algebraic solutions to a given word problem; b) keep track of the student’s actions; c) provide automatic remediation; and d) determine the current state of the resolution process univocally. Starting from these ideas, we have designed an intelligent tutoring system (ITS). An experimental eva…
On the Influence of Affect in EEG-Based Subject Identification
2021
Biometric signals have been extensively used for user identification and authentication due to their inherent characteristics that are unique to each person. The variation exhibited between the brain signals (EEG) of different people makes such signals especially suitable for biometric user identification. However, the characteristics of these signals are also influenced by the user’s current condition, including his/her affective state. In this paper, we analyze the significance of the affect-related component of brain signals within the subject identification context. Consistent results are obtained across three different public datasets, suggesting that the dominant component of the sign…
BIG-AFF
2017
Recent research has provided solid evidence that emotions strongly affect motivation and engagement, and hence play an important role in learning. In BIG-AFF project, we build on the hypothesis that ``it is possible to provide learners with a personalised support that enriches their learning process and experience by using low intrusive (and low cost) devices to capture affective multimodal data that include cognitive, behavioural and physiological information''. In order to deal with the affect management complete cycle, thus covering affect detection, modelling and feedback, there is lack of standards and consolidated methodologies. Being our goal to develop realistic affect-aware learnin…
Efficient Analysis and Synthesis Using a New Factorization of the Gabor Frame Matrix
2018
In this paper, we consider the case in which one needs to carry out Gabor analysis and synthesis on large signals using a short support analysis window and its corresponding, possibly longer canonical dual window, respectively. In this asymmetric context, we propose a novel factorization of the Gabor frame operator that exploits its strong and well-known structure and leads to a computational cost for synthesis, which is comparable to the one needed for short support analysis. The proposed factorization applies to any Gabor system with very mild conditions and leads to a potentially promising alternative to current synthesis algorithms in the case of short analysis windows whose support is …
Conquer the Net: An educational computer game to learn the basic configuration of networking components
2009
Advanced networking equipment is relatively expensive and student access to it is usually limited to scheduled times at computer laboratories within the university premises. Hence, it is important to make the most effective use of the time assigned and minimize the time that students spend in activities which can be performed outside the laboratory sessions. Familiarizing with the basic configuration commands is one such activity. We have developed a computer game to allow students to learn these in a motivating and pleasant environment. This game has been designed so that rules are easily learned and both cooperative and competitive learning are promoted. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Com…
Towards Psychologically based Personalised Modelling of Emotions Using Associative Classifiers
2016
Learning environments, among other user-centred applications, are excellent candidates to trial Computational Emotions and their algorithms to enhance user experience and to expand the system usability. However, this was not feasible because of the paucity in affordable consumer technologies that support the requirements of systems with advanced cognitive capabilities. Microsoft Kinect provides an accessible and affordable technology that can enable cognitive features such as facial expressions extraction and emotions detection. However, it comes with its own additional challenges, such as the limited number of extracted Animation Units (AUs). This paper presents a new approach that attempt…
Three-dimensional phase unwrapping using the Hungarian algorithm.
2009
We propose a three-dimensional phase unwrapping technique that uses the Hungarian algorithm to join together all the partial residual loops that may occur in a wrapped phase volume. Experimental results have shown that the proposed algorithm is more robust and reliable than other well-known three-dimensional phase unwrapping algorithms. Additionally, the proposed algorithm is fast in terms of computational complexity, which makes it suitable for practical applications.
A Robust and Simple Measure for Quality-Guided 2D Phase Unwrapping Algorithms
2016
Quality-based 2D phase unwrapping algorithms provide one of the best tradeoffs between speed and quality of results. Their robustness depends on a quality map, which is used to build a path that visits the most reliable pixels first. Unwrapping then proceeds along this path, delaying unwrapping of noisy and inconsistent areas until the end, so that the unwrapping errors remain local. We propose a novel quality measure that is consistent, technically sound, effective, fast to compute, and immune to the presence of a carrier signal. The new measure combines the benefits of both the quality-guided and the residue-based phase unwrapping approaches. The quality map is justified from the two diff…
Class discovery from semi-structured EEG data for affective computing and personalisation
2017
The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Many approaches to recognising emotions from metrical data such as EEG signals rely on identifying a very small number of classes and to train a classifier. The interpretation of these classes varies from a single emotion such as stress [24] to features of emotional model such as valence-arousal [4]. There are two major issues here. First classification approach limits the analysis of the data within the selected classes and is also highly dependent on training data/cycles, all of which limits generalisation. Second issue is that it does not exp…