Physiological computing (and its sub-discipline Affective Computing) applies data from the body’s periphery (brain waves, skin conductance changes, pupil dynamics, heart rate variability etc.) to generate user-state representations and enable computer systems to dynamically adapt to changes in cognitive and/or affective processing. However, research usually focuses on controlled environments and certified measuring devices. The two-part research seminar aims to explore techniques to apply physiological/affective computing in daily scenarios via adapted instruments and to compare the results to findings from experimental lab studies. Students are asked to form small working groups and tackle (self-chosen) research questions by collecting and analysing physiological data from different experimental settings.
Part 1 of the seminar primarily addresses lab studies and established recording devices (e.g. eye-tracker) to understand principles of information processing in physiological systems. Part 2 (summer semester 2023) adapts prior research questions by carrying out data collection in noisy environments and on basis of customized instruments (e.g. smart phones, web cams).
Students are welcome to attend both parts of the research seminar, however, it is possible to participate only in either one of the courses. |
