Field of Activity

Human-oriented image analysis

Imaging sensors in Human Factors and medical technology

Imaging sensors have become increasingly important in behavioral studies, usability engineering, medicine and biometrics. Data on Human Factors (e.g., attention level, stress, emotion, etc.) are being captured more frequently due to the increasing miniaturization of portable sensors such as Eye Tracking Glasses, physiological-response and activity-based sensors, but also in more depth using classic human-computer interfaces (desktop computers, surveillance units, etc.). This data is analyzed and represented in archetypal and personalized user models. In the field of medicine, new methods of computer analysis and data archiving are becoming more important and provide support during the diagnosis and documentation stages. The research on human-oriented image analysis guides the emerging technological trends down a new path.

Human-oriented image analysis involves the measurement instrumentation and the information retrieval from imaging sensors used during behavioral analyses, and with medical technology. It involves specific measurement and classification tasks for documentation and diagnostic support purposes, the recording of objects and the measurement of biometric characteristics.

Medical Image Processing

Over the past years, we have built up expertise in medical image processing that can be applied during the simulation of wound healing, recording of deformable bodies, recording and classifying of melanomas, classification of tooth color, registration and feature identification using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO), texture analysis to identify posterior capsule opacification (PCO), and digital mammography. Not only the algorithmic data analysis, but also volumetric data set handling (e.g., DICOM) and data visualization synergize will with other research focus on the case of 3D weather radar or computer tomography used in the steel and wood industries.

The activities within the framework of the European Biometrics Research Programme Biosecure (network-of-excellence) and membership in the BioSecure Association demonstrate our competence in this subject area.

Human Factors Technologies & Services

Innovative solutions based on Eye Tracking Systems are being developed using methods of cognitive image analysis in order to perform behavioral analyses of individuals for usability research and market analysis. Thereby, we focus on the following main areas of development:

  1. Innovative solutions that allow the extraction of relevant data that describe human behavior, with a special emphasis placed on levels of concentration, drawing correlations with information about levels of stress and emotion. We develop internationally innovative technologies that allow us to measure concentration parameters in 3D.
  2. Mathematical models that describe human cognition patterns, in particular concentration levels. The models take into account both spontaneous reactions to immediate stimuli in the environment ("bottom-up") as well as reactions to task-related stimuli ("top-down"), particularly within the context of functional affordances and the current action of the study participants.
  3. Technologies for natural interfaces between different social groups: senior citizens / immigrants / the functionally illiterate, etc.