Empathic Computing [chapter]

Yang Cai
2006 Lecture Notes in Computer Science  
Empathic computing is an emergent paradigm that enables a system to understand human states and feelings and to share this intimate information. The new paradigm is made possible by the convergence of affordable sensors, embedded processors and wireless ad-hoc networks. The power law for multiresolution channels and mobile-stationary sensor webs is introduced to resolve the information avalanche problems. As empathic computing is sensor-rich computing, particular models such as semantic
more » ... tial expressions and inverse physics are discussed. A case study of a wearable sensor network for detection of a falling event is presented. It is found that the location of the wearable sensor is sensitive to the results. From the machine learning algorithm, the accuracy reaches up to 90% from 21 simulated trials. Empathic computing is not limited to healthcare. It can also be applied to solve other everyday-life problems such as management of emails and stress. Y. Cai Empathic computing emerges as a new paradigm that enables machines to know who, what, where, when and why, so that the machines can anticipate and respond to our needs gracefully. Empathic computing in this study is narrowed down to understand the 'low-level' subconscious feelings, such as pain, illness, depression or anomaly. Empathic computing is a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI), network communication and human-computer interaction (HCI) within a practical context such as healthcare. The AI program ELIZA is perhaps the first artifact that is capable to engage in an empathic conversation [80] . Based on simple keyword matching, the program appears to be a 'good listener' to psychiatric patients. This shows that a small program could generate pseudo-empathy at a certain degree. However, human feelings and states are more than just verbal communication. We watch, listen, taste, smell, touch and search. Warwick's project Cyborg [83] is probably the most daring physical empathic artifact. The pioneer implanted an electrode array under his skin that interfaced directly into the nervous system. The signal was fed into a robot arm that mimicked the dynamics of Warwick's own arm. Furthermore, the researcher implanted a sensor array into his wife's arm with the goal of creating a form of telepathy or empathy using Internet to communicate the signal remotely. With the growing need for home health care, empathic computing attracts attention from many fields. Recent studies include designing a home for elderly people or people with disabilities [17] . Healthcare systems are looking for an easy and costeffective way to collect and transmit data from a patient's home. For example, a study [26] shows that the GSM wireless network used by most major cell phone companies was the best for sending data to hospitals from a patient's home. Universities and corporations have launched labs to explore the healthy living environment, such as LiveNet [65, 40], HomeNet [28], and Philips' HomeLab [27]. Furthermore, Bodymedia has developed the armband wearable sensor [8, 20] that tracks body temperature, galvanic skin response, heat flux, and other data. The data are then uploaded to a special web site for food and nutrition advices. In this paper, we explore concepts of empathic sensor webs and related empathic computing methods. As a case study, we focus on the wearable sensor network for anomalous event detection at home. Using a simple distributed wireless sensor network and an equally simple algorithm, we are able to determine if the person is in trouble in real time. They may have fallen over and hurt themselves; their body temperature may be abnormal; or they may have stopped moving for an extended period of time. It would be valuable to alert the appropriate persons for assistance.
doi:10.1007/11825890_3 fatcat:s3e5kti6rffx5kxtm6a4wtbngm