Affective computing and body-sensing technologies are opening new possibilities to enhance wellbeing and transform healthcare. By analysing and modelling human movement and touch behaviour, we can not only gain insights and modulate affective interaction, but also design technologies that actively support health and wellbeing management.

To be effective, such affective technologies must be grounded in an understanding of how affect is expressed and engaged within everyday functioning. In this talk, I will share lessons from three case studies.

The first focuses on chronic pain self-directed rehabilitation, showing how sensing body movement can support people with chronic pain in remaining active and how body movement itself can be leveraged to increase awareness or alter perceptions of self.

The second explores work with occupational therapists, examining how robotics can be used for touch assessment training and skill development, supporting therapists in their embodied, hands-on practice.

The final case study presents preliminary work on how affective body-sensing technologies could provide support beyond healthcare, extending into everyday wellbeing and sustainable fashion choices.

Speaker

Nadia Berthouze

Nadia Berthouze is a Full Professor in Affective Computing and Interaction at the University College London Interaction Centre (UCLIC). She is the Deputy Director of UCLIC. Her research focuses on designing technology that can sense the affective state of its users and use that information to tailor the interaction process.

She has pioneered the field of Affective Computing by investigating how body movement and touch behaviour can be used as means to recognize and measure the quality of the user experience. She also studied how full-body technology and body sensory feedback can be used to modulate people’s perception of themselves and of their capabilities to improve self-efficacy and coping capabilities.

Her work has been motivated by real-world applications such as physical rehabilitation (EPSR Embodied Intelligence, EPSRC Emo&Pain, H2020 EnTiMeMent), technology for textile design (EPSRC Digital Sensoria, EPSRC Textile Circularity Centre), education (H2020 WeDraw) and wellbeing (Intelligent Embodied Interaction, EPSRC; H2020 Human Manufacturing, EPSRC Embodied Intelligence). She has published more than 200 papers in Affective Computing, HCI, and Pattern Recognition.