6th International Workshop on Empathic Computing (IWEC-15)

6th International Workshop on Empathic Computing (IWEC-15)

Abstract & Topics

Technology has made strides investigating how computational models of emotions can be built. In recent years, Computer Science researchers have realized that emotion models cannot be effectively used in real-world applications by themselves. They need to be analyzed in light of human interactions, and treated with other non-verbal cues as social signals to extract meaning from the data. 

Currently, there is a need for human-centered systems, i.e. systems that are seamlessly integrated into everyday life, easy to use, multimodal, and anticipatory. These systems widen the breadth of users of computing systems, from the very young to the elderly, as well as to the physically challenged. Empathic systems are human-centered systems.

Empathic computing systems are software or physical context-aware computing systems capable of building user models and provide richer, naturalistic, system-initiated empathic responses with the objective of providing intelligent assistance and support. We view empathy as a cognitive act that involves the perception of the user's thought, affect (i.e., emotional feeling or mood), intention or goal, activity, and/or situation and a response due to this perception that is supportive of the user. An empathic computing system is ambient intelligent, i.e., it consists of seamlessly integrated ubiquitous networked sensors, microprocessors and software for it to perceive the various user behavioral patterns from multimodal inputs.

On its sixth year, IWEC-15 aims to gather researchers interested in the deployment of agents in real-world scenarios, such as tele-health and therapy systems, education (in tutoring systems) and edutainment such as games. The design of such agents' interactions with humans is an interesting study, as it will need to consider performance issues (i.e. the ability to understand input and respond in real-time), interaction design (considering factors such as culture, profile, and context, including the goal of the interaction), and usability among others. Specifically, the workshop aims to bring together a variety of researchers from Computer Science, Psychology, Education, and User Experience to help solve these complex issues.

We are inviting new and unpublished papers on, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Sensor Networks/Wearable Sensors for Intelligent Interfaces
  • Human-Robot Interactions
  • Emotion-aware Embodied Conversational Agents
  • Emotion and mood recognition
  • Intention Recognition/Behavior/Activity Recognition
  • Multimodal Communication
  • Social Signal Processing
  • Social Agents
  • Data fusion in Intelligent Ambient Spaces
  • Multimodal Approaches for Improved Decision-making
  • Motivational Aids in Intelligent Education Systems
  • e-Health and Geriatrics Care
  • Machine Learning and Data mining for Empathy

The workshop will be of interest to researchers working on affective computing, ambient intelligent systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, including statistical modelling, and digital signal processing. IWEC-15 aims to serve as venue for these researchers to discuss and share ideas, raise concerns and technical issues, and form research relationships for future collaboration. 

Important Dates

  • Workshop paper submissions due: 15 August 2015
  • Workshop paper notifications due: 31 August 2015
  • Workshop proceedings due: 15 October 2015
  • Workshop date: 26 October 2015

Submission & Registration

See the official IWEC-15 website: http://www.ai.sanken.osaka-u.ac.jp/iwec2015/index.html

Organisers

  • Masayuki Numao - Department of Architecture for Intelligence, Osaka University (Japan)
  • Merlin Teodosia Suarez - Center for Empathic Human-Computer Interactions, De La Salle University (Philippines)
  • The Duy Bui - Human Machine Interaction Laboratory, Vietnam National University Hanoi (Vietnam)
  • Ma. Mercedes Rodrigo - Ateneo Laboratory for the Learning Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines)

Contacts