Smart Pervasive Technologies Utilizing Non-Verbal Information

Dear Colleagues,

Utilizing non-verbal information to advance the development of intelligent pervasive technologies for daily human interactions has emerged as a new focal point. In the domain of non-verbal communication tailored to specific demographics or purposes, research and development activities are burgeoning around physical gestures, facial expressions, eye movements, and other motor behaviors, as well as bodily characteristics (e.g., weight, body odor, hair, and skin features, and physique), tactile interactions (e.g., greetings, hugs, and touches), paralanguage (e.g., tone, intensity, and rhythm of speech), spatial behaviors (e.g., interpersonal distances, defensive perimeters, territories), and artifacts (e.g., eyeglasses and clothing).

However, challenges persist in implementing cloud and fog computing due to concerns over user privacy and security, with current mainstream approaches relying heavily on edge computing. Elements such as intrusiveness in daily life, accuracy, availability, affordability, long-term maintenance complexity, individuality, and even ethical considerations must all be addressed through practical research.

Recently, AI-based pre-trained models for image and sound recognition have emerged, begetting the question of whether traditional data collection and training processes can be entirely streamlined. Furthermore, diverse techniques such as ensemble learning, transfer learning, and model fine-tuning offer promising avenues for exploration. Moreover, hardware integration, including smart robots, has yet to fully converge with these technologies in the current market. Against this backdrop, what are the greatest difficulties and challenges in achieving such integration? Addressing this issue demands continuous reflection and exploration from scholars.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Smart pervasive services with physical gestures;
• Facial expression estimation for smart pervasive services;
• Eye movement measurement for smart pervasive services;
• Smart pervasive services based on tactile interactions;
• Smart pervasive services using paralanguage.

Dr. Sinan Chen
Dr. Jialong Li
Guest Editors

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• smart pervasive technologies
• non-verbal information
• smart pervasive services with edge computing
• AI-based pre-trained models
• ensemble learning
• transfer learning
• model fine-tuning for smart pervasive systems
• affordable hardware for smart pervasive services