Biometrics for Emotion Detection (BED): Exploring the combination of Speech and ECG

The paradigm Biometrics for Emotion Detection (BED) is introduced, which enables unobtrusive emotion recognition, taking into account varying environments. It uses the electrocardiogram (ECG) and speech, as a powerful but rarely used combination to unravel people’s emotions. BED was applied in two environments (i.e., office and home-like) in which 40 people watched 6 film scenes. It is shown that both heart rate variability (derived from the ECG) and, when people’s gender is taken into account, the standard deviation of the fundamental frequency of speech indicate people’s experienced emotions. As such, these measures validate each other. Moreover, it is found that people’s environment can indeed of influence experienced emotions. These results indicate that BED might become an important paradigm for unobtrusive emotion detection

Voorkomen en beheersen van Fusarium in uien

Literatuurstudie uitgevoerd door studenten van CAH Dronten, naar 'Fusarium oxysporum formae speciale cepae', de schimmel die de meeste problemen geeft in de uienteelt. Het hoofddoel van het onderzoek is, om de beschikbare kennis over deze bodemschimmel te bundelen waarbij de nadruk wordt gelegd op het voorkomen, beheersen of te bestrijden van de ziekte in de uienteelt. In hoofdstuk 1 wordt de inleiding van het verslag uitgewerkt aan de hand van de omschrijving, omvang van het probleem en de aanleiding en doel van het verslag. In het tweede hoofdstuk worden de twee bodemschimmels beschreven die grote problemen veroorzaken in de Nederlandse uienteelt namelijk witrot en Fusarium. In hoofdstuk 3 wordt Fusarium verder gedefinieerd en worden de kenmerken en symptomen uitgewerkt. In het vierde hoofdstuk is het effect van Fusarium op de uienteelt uitgewerkt aan de hand van de geschatte economische verliezen, overzicht van probleemgebieden, besmettingsbronnen en gevolgen van de aanwezigheid in de bodem. In het vijfde hoofdstuk wordt de beheersing en bestrijding uitgewerkt, met daarbij ook de mogelijkheden om de ziekte te voorkomen. In het laatste hoofdstuk is een aanbeveling gemaakt hoe Fusarium in de uienteelt voorkomen of beperkt kan worden, dit wordt zowel voor de biologische als de gangbare teelt beschreven

Prerequisites for Affective Signal Processing (ASP)

Although emotions are embraced by science, their recognition has not reached a satisfying level. Through a concise overview of affect, its signals, features, and classification methods, we provide understanding for the problems encountered. Next, we identify the prerequisites for successful Affective Signal Processing: validation (e.g., mapping of constructs on signals), triangulation, a physiology-driven approach, and contributions of the signal processing community. Using these directives, a critical analysis of a real-world case is provided. This illustrates that the prerequisites can become a valuable guide for Affective Signal Processing (ASP)

Biosignals as an Advanced Man-Machine Interface

As is known for centuries, humans exhibit an electrical profile. This profile is altered through various physiological processes, which can be measured through biosignals; e.g., electromyography (EMG) and electrodermal activity (EDA). These biosignals can reveal our emotions and, as such, can serve as an advanced man-machine interface (MMI) for empathic consumer products. However, such an MMI requires the correct classification of biosignals to emotion classes. This paper explores the use of EDA and three facial EMG signals to determine neutral, positive, negative, and mixed emotions, using recordings of 24 people. A range of techniques is tested, which resulted in a generic framework for automated emotion classification with up to 61.31% correct classification of the four emotion classes, without the need of personal profiles. Among various other directives for future research, the results emphasize the need for both personalized biosignal-profiles and the recording of multiple biosignals in parallel

Prerequisites for Affective Signal Processing (ASP) - Part III

This is the third part in a series on prerequisites for affective signal processing (ASP). So far, six prerequisites were identified: validation (e.g., mapping of constructs on signals), triangulation, a physiology-driven approach, and contributions of the signal processing community (van den Broek et al., 2009) and identification of users and theoretical specification (van den Broek et al., 2010). Here, two additional prerequisites are identified: integration of biosignals, and physical characteristics

Prerequisites for Affective Signal Processing (ASP) - Part V: A response to comments and suggestions

In four papers, a set of eleven prerequisites for affective signal processing (ASP) were identified (van den Broek et al., 2010): validation, triangulation, a physiology-driven approach, contributions of the signal processing community, identification of users, theoretical specification, integration of biosignals, physical characteristics, historical perspective, temporal construction, and real-world baselines. Additionally, a review (in two parts) of affective computing was provided. Initiated by the reactions on these four papers, we now present: i) an extension of the review, ii) a post-hoc analysis based on the eleven prerequisites of Picard et al.(2001), and iii) a more detailed discussion and illustrations of temporal aspects with ASP

Chiral Brownian heat pump

We present the exact analysis of a chiral Brownian motor and heat pump. Optimization of the construction predicts, for a nanoscale device, frequencies of the order of kHz and cooling rates of the order of femtojoule per second.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let