IST 2006 Helsinki

Affective Computing and Ambient Assisted Living was one of the central themes of the ACAAL workshop. Interesting work has been done in this field. I think there's a gap in the way things are done in the laboratory and how the general public is viewing the various living labs that are funded by the European Unit. Can intelligent machines have emotions?

IST EVENT 2006

Workshop on Affective Computing for Ambient Assisted Living

November 21-23, 2006, Helsinki

Nowadays, the researches on ambient intelligent are addressed to understand user’s physical and mental states, and to assist them proactively in performing activities, reaching goals and mastering everyday life. This characterizes a new mode of natural interaction between people and their environment: Ambient intelligence enables the environment to become aware of the human that interacts with, in terms of his goals, needs and even moods, then to proactively help the human to reach his goals.

• ability to recognize
• ability to understand
• even to process and express emotions
  

Scientific findings indicate that emotion is an essential element of our intelligence, and plays an significant role in decision making, perception, learning, and more --- that is, it influences the very mechanisms of rational thinking. Therefore, the ambient intelligence systems should also have the ability to recognize, to understand, even to possess and express emotions. “The question is not whether intelligent machines can have emotions, but whether machines can be intelligent without any emotions.” (M. Minsky)

• emotion is an essential element of our intelligence
• emotions play a significant role in decision making, perception and learning
• emotions are influencing the very mechanism of rational thinking