TEACHING:

MAS.630 Affective Computing (Fall 2011)

MAS.160 and MAS.510 Signals, Systems and Information (next offered: Spring 2012)

MAS.622J Pattern Recognition and Analysis

MAS.771 Autism Theory and Technology

RESEARCH:

Affective Computing. Picard coined the term "Affective Computing" in 1994 for describing a new direction of research that she wanted to encourage people to think about, published a broad vision of the research as a technical report in January 1995, launched the Affective Computing Research Group in fall 1995, and published the first book on Affective Computing in 1997. Since then she has led a team at MIT pioneering research in developing new technologies for sensing, communicating, modeling, and responding intelligently to people's emotions, and for enabling people to better communicate, reflect on and learn more about emotion.

Recent research is aimed at gaining new understanding of the interaction between affective processes and learning, autism, decision-making, customer experience, various health conditions, and health behavior change. Practical applications have included measuring seizures, improving driver safety, helping people manage stress, reducing frustration, and enhancing customer experience. Her team has also initiated research into the ethics of affective computing. Findings and results of the research have been communicated primarily through peer-reviewed publications and occasionally through the press.

PRIOR RESEARCH:

Texture and Pattern Modeling
Video and Image Libraries: Browsing, Retrieval, Annotation

RESEARCH GROUP:

I have the privilege of working with many outstanding students, postdoctoral associates, and visiting scientists in my group at MIT and with collaborators outside MIT, including many fine people on the autism spectrum. Our research has been enormously enriched by the diversity of backgrounds, cultures, personalities, and perspectives of these individuals working together.