Syllabus

MAS.630 Affective Computing and Ethics (Fall 2022)


Class Schedule (Subject to Change):


  • Wed Sep 7 Overview of the topic of Affective Computing & Ethics; Course mechanics and expectations


Tues Sep 13 1pm: HWK1 due
includes meeting with others in the class to brainstorm project ideas

  • Wed Sep 14 What makes a great class project? Examples of AC research projects in the past. Human study design examples and tips.


Tues Sep 20 1pm: HWK2 dueincludes your project ideas and showing that you've supported others in the class with project idea development

  • Wed Sep 21 Students present (half-baked) project ideas; Class discussion & forming project teams


Tues Sep 27 1pm: HWK3 due includes your team's final project proposal -- including a study or plan to test it, and at least 3 related references per team memberrecommended: book at least one meeting with Neska or Roz or both

  • Wed Sep 28 Introduction to Emotion Recognition in Context


Tues Oct 4 1pm: HWK4 due includes draft of your COUHES application due (on Canvas to Staff) includes slides to present in class Oct 5and booking a meeting this week to discuss project w/Neska or Roz or TA

  • Wed Oct 5 TEAMS PRESENT Final Project, Related Work Search, and Initial Study Design for class discussion


Tues Oct 11 1pm: HWK5 due Submit to Roz your COUHES application to get department and PI sign off (due 1 week before COUHES Oct 18 deadline).COUHES has a hard deadline on Oct 18, but if you want an answer from them before Nov 18, then GET IT IN EARLY and request early approval.includes slides to present "final design" and/or "important related work" on your project

  • Wed Oct 12 Real-world Regulation of Affective Computing (guest lecturers joining us: Robert Mahari and Dan Calacci

Wed Oct 12 SPECIAL EVENT: 2-4pm in E15-341, join conversation with Jeremias Prassl of Oxford University to help shape the proposed EU regulations around affective computing


Tues Oct 18 1pm: HWK6 due

  • Wed Oct 19 Sentiment analysis, affect manipulation and social media with ethical considerations, guest lecturer" BelĂ©n Saldias Fuentas


Tues Oct 25 1pm: NO HWK

  • Wed Oct 26 NO CLASS - Media Lab Members Meeting


Tues Nov 1 1pm: HWK7 due

  • Wed Nov 2 Affective technologies for stress management & Health; Physiology and behavior that carry emotional information


Tues Nov 8 1pm: HWK8 due

  • Wed Nov 9 Guest: Dr. Javier Hernandez, Microsoft Research, affective technologies & ethical deployment in industry


Tues Nov 15 1pm: HWK9 due = Class presentation on the background literature for your project

  • Wed Nov 16 TEAMS PRESENT Insights from the literature related to project & demo what is built/achieved so far (Progress Presentation)

(COUHES approvals should arrive by next week if they were submitted on time)

  • Wed Nov 23 Robots and software agents with emotional intelligence; learning emotional intelligence, guest presenters: Huili Chen and Sharifa Alghowinem from Personal Robots Group, MIT Media Lab

Tues Nov 29: 1pm: HWK10 due = Draft of final project report (background, study design, but no results)

  • Wed Nov 30 Emotion from context - Agata Lapedriza & Cristina Bustos, AC & deception detection & other important topics - Roz

  • Wed Dec 7 ** Final Project Presentations - Part 1. Attendance required by students, Open to Guests

  • Wed Dec 14 ** Final Project Presentations - Part 2. Attendance required by students, Open to Guests


*TBD topic possibilities: Measuring affect from physiological data and wearables; affective neuroscience; affect & autism; ethical case studies & solutions, AC & mental health, can computers actually *have* emotion and will this enable AGI? You can also suggest topics that interest you and help you advance your project goals.