Investigating Bias in Facial Analysis Systems: A Systematic Review

© 2013 IEEE. Recent studies have demonstrated that most commercial facial analysis systems are biased against certain categories of race, ethnicity, culture, age and gender. The bias can be traced in some cases to the algorithms used and in other cases to insufficient training of algorithms, while in still other cases bias can be traced to insufficient databases. To date, no comprehensive literature review exists which systematically investigates bias and discrimination in the currently available facial analysis software. To address the gap, this study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) in which the context of facial analysis system bias is investigated in detail. The review, involving 24 studies, additionally aims to identify (a) facial analysis databases that were created to alleviate bias, (b) the full range of bias in facial analysis software and (c) algorithms and techniques implemented to mitigate bias in facial analysis

Distributed Computing and Monitoring Technologies for Older Patients

This book summarizes various approaches for the automatic detection of health threats to older patients at home living alone. The text begins by briefly describing those who would most benefit from healthcare supervision. The book then summarizes possible scenarios for monitoring an older patient at home, deriving the common functional requirements for monitoring technology. Next, the work identifies the state of the art of technological monitoring approaches that are practically applicable to geriatric patients. A survey is presented on a range of such interdisciplinary fields as smart homes, telemonitoring, ambient intelligence, ambient assisted living, gerontechnology, and aging-in-place technology. The book discusses relevant experimental studies, highlighting the application of sensor fusion, signal processing and machine learning techniques. Finally, the text discusses future challenges, offering a number of suggestions for further research directions

The Potential of the Transformative Storytelling Technique for supporting informal caregiver wellbeing

In una società in cui i progressi e le innovazioni si verificano quotidianamente, lo sviluppo di strumenti digitali per la salute mentale continua a ritmi quasi incontrollabili. Seguendo le tendenze nell'utilizzo dello storytelling in tutti i campi e riflettendo sulla mancanza di modelli di lavoro e strutture per l'applicazione dello storytelling nel supporto della salute mentale, la Transformative Storytelling Technique è progettata e sviluppata come parte di questo lavoro. Questa tecnica rappresenta una nuova categoria per la creazione di contenuti ibridi per guidare l'esperienza del pubblico, a partire dal caso dei caregiver informali. Lo scopo di questa dissertazione è introdurre ed esplorare la fattibilità di una nuova tecnica - Transformative Storytelling (TST) - nel supportare la salute mentale e il benessere dei caregiver informali con storie audio progettate. La tesi è presentata in quattro capitoli in linea con gli obiettivi e strutturata secondo le fasi di ricerca e sviluppo applicate nello sviluppo di questa nuova tecnica. In questo lavoro viene utilizzato il disegno del metodo misto, inclusa la revisione qualitativa dell'ambito nel primo studio, l'indagine narrativa utilizzando interviste semi-strutturate progettate seguendo le categorie di esplorazione TST a priori nel secondo studio e lo studio quantitativo pre-post interventistico combinato con il facciale monitoraggio dell'espressione nello studio pilota. La Transformative Storytelling Technique è dimostrata come un approccio metodologico e narrativo digitale potenzialmente di successo per strutturare, sintetizzare tematicamente le esperienze dei gruppi target e consegnarle attraverso la narrazione digitale. Questo potenziale è stato osservato nella valutazione pilota pre-post, in cui la tecnica ha dimostrato una significativa riduzione del carico soggettivo e un significativo aumento della felicità durante l'esposizione della storia TST. Nello Studio 1, vengono esplorati gli strumenti di salute mentale digitale esistenti per i caregiver informali, seguiti dallo Studio 2 in cui è stata discussa e proposta una potenziale soluzione di supporto. In linea con ciò, il lavoro continua con lo Studio 3 in cui la Transformative Storytelling Technique viene adattata dal Transformative Video Design e viene eseguita la dimostrazione metodologica. Successivamente, la valutazione pilota della tecnica menzionata nello Studio 4 è inclusa per testare la fattibilità dell'utilizzo della tecnica di narrazione per supportare i caregiver informali con narrazioni digitali TST. Infine, i limiti e le implicazioni per la ricerca futura sono discussi nella sezione finale.In a society where advances and innovations occur daily, the development of digital mental health tools continues at almost uncontrollable rates. Following trends in utilization of storytelling across fields and reflecting on the lack of working models and frameworks for application of storytelling in mental health support, the Transformative Storytelling Technique is designed and developed as a part of this work. This technique represents a new category for creating hybrid content to guide the experience of audiences, starting with the case of informal caregivers. The aim of this dissertation is to introduce and explore the feasibility of a novel technique – Transformative Storytelling (TST) - in supporting informal caregivers’ mental health and wellbeing with designed audio stories. The dissertation is presented in four chapters in line with the objectives and structured according to the research and developmental phases applied in developing this novel technique. Mixed-method design is used in this work, including qualitative scoping review in first study, narrative inquiry using semi-structured interviews designed following a-priori TST categories of exploration in the second study, and quantitative pre-post interventional study combined with the facial expression tracking in the pilot study. Transformative Storytelling Technique is demonstrated as a potentially successful methodological and digital narrative approach for structuring, thematically synthesizing experiences of target groups, and delivering them via digital narration. This potential was observed in the pilot pre-post assessment, where the technique demonstrated significant reduction of the subjective burden and a significant increase in happiness during the TST story exposure. In Study 1, the existing digital mental health tools for informal caregivers are being explored, followed by the Study 2 where a potential support solution has been thoroughly discussed and proposed. In line with that, the work continues with Study 3 where the Transformative Storytelling Technique is adapted from the Transformative Video Design and methodological demonstration is being performed. Next, the pilot assessment of the mentioned technique in Study 4 is included to test the feasibility of using the storytelling technique for supporting informal caregivers with TST digital narratives. Finally, limitations and implications for future research are discussed in the final section

2022 SOARS Conference Program

Program for the 2022 Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Non-communicable Diseases, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

This reprint includes 15 articles in the field of non-communicable Diseases, big data, and artificial intelligence, overviewing the most recent advances in the field of AI and their application potential in 3P medicine