15:55   Special Session 2-GZ – Guidelines for Affective Signal Processing: From Lab to Life
Chair: Egon L. van den Broek and Joyce Westerink
15:55
20 mins 		Guidelines for Affective Signal Processing (ASP): From Lab to Life
Egon L. van den Broek, Joris H. Janssen, Joyce H.D.M. Westerink
Abstract: This article presents the rationale behind ACII2009's special session: Guidelines for Affective Signal Processing (ASP): From lab to life. Although affect is embraced by both science and engineering, its recognition has not reached a satisfying level. Through a concise overview of ASP and the automatic classification of affect, we provide understanding for the problems encountered. Next, we identify guidelines for ASP: 1) four approaches to validation: content, criteria-related, construct, and ecological, 2) identification of users, 3) triangulation, and 4) signal processing issues. Each of these guidelines is briefly touched upon in this paper. A more exhaustive discussion on these guidelines, in perspective of the invited speakers' experience, will be provided through the session and its accompanying papers.
16:15
20 mins 		Experiences with adaptive statistical models for biosignals in daily life
Stijn de Waele, Gert-Jan de Vries, Mark Jaeger
Abstract: We discuss the merits of adaptive statistical models for biosignals in a daily life context. Processing of this type of signals poses a number of challenges. First, it is clear that an adaptive model is needed to tailor for the differences in physiology between individuals, as well as adapt to someone’s current physiological state. Second, in a daily life setting we use unobtrusive measurement devices, which will lead to reduced signal quality compared to the laboratory setting. Third, low-power portable sensors allow for only limited data storage and data transmission. Two techniques to address these challenges are discussed in detail: the usage of the cumulative histogram and parametric models. We show applications to electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG) and skin conductance (SC) signals and we advise on how to obtain the most reliable results.
16:35
20 mins 		Artefact-free Real-time Computation of Cardiovascular Measures
Arjan Stuiver, Ben Mulder
Abstract: Cardiovascular measures can be used as indices of physiological and affective state. The theoretical and practical issues encountered in the sequence of dataacquisition, artefact handling and data (pre-)processing are described in this paper. The results of these processes are used to formulate suggestions how to develop an operator status model, a generic system for operator assessment.
16:55
20 mins 		Towards User-Independent Classification of Multimodal Emotional Signals
Jonghwa Kim, Elisabeth Andre, Thurid Vogt
Abstract: Coping with differences in the expression of emotions is a challenging task not only for a machine, but also for humans. Since individualism in the expression of emotions may occur at various stages of the emotion generation process, human beings may react quite differently to the same stimulus. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that recognition rates reported for a user-dependent system are significantly higher than recognition rates for a userindependent system. Based on empirical data we obtained in our earlier work on the recognition of emotions from biosignals, speech and their combination, we discuss which consequences arise from individual user differences for automated recognition systems and outline how these systems could be adapted to particular user groups.
17:15
20 mins 		Affect Detection in the Real World: Recording and Processing Physiological Signals
Jennifer A. Healey
Abstract: Recording and processing physiological signals from real life for the purpose of affect detection presents many challenges beyond those encountered in the laboratory. Issues such as finding the proper baseline and normalization take on a time dependent meaning. Physical motion also becomes an important factor as these physiological signals often overwhelm those caused by affect. Motion also has an effect on the sensors themselves and precautions must be taken to minimize noise due to changes in placement and loss of connectivity. Ground truth collection is also discussed so that sudden events such as unexpected sounds, bumping into someone in the hallway or having a sneeze are not confused with traumatic affect. In particular, this paper focuses on these issues with respect to recording and processing: galvanic skin response; blood volume pulse; electrocardiogram; electromyogram; respiration and accelerometer signals.