Affective Engineering and Computer Arts Lab (AECAL) researches
and develops models to infer human affective, emotional, or
sensual responses and applies these models to specific
objectives. When a person is exposed to a stimulus, the
experience may be associated with quantifiable internal and
external responses. Because the systems are developed to satisfy
specific, practical objectives, the models applied range from
statistical models to methods of soft computing and intelligent
systems (also known as artificial intelligence, or AI). AECAL
develops new methods to meet those needs.
There are many areas where affective responses are central to
the functioning of essential systems. In security, for example,
user feelings lead to behaviors that may either protect or
endanger data, systems, and people. In education, how students
feel has a direct influence on how they learn. In healthcare,
patient affect influences recovery and improving how patients
feel is also a major final goal. In these and other areas,
intelligent systems are discovering novel solutions to problems
once considered beyond the scope of engineering.
AECAL also applies affective engineering and intelligent systems
to the arts. Computers have often been tools for the arts but,
in every medium, intelligent systems are becoming full partners
in the creation process. In the past, many developments for the
computer arts have become technologies we use every day.
