Agent technologies have emerged from Artificial Intelligence and Social Sciences studies to become an emergent filed within main stream Software Engineering. Their characteristics of scalability, robustness, and easy maintainability made them attractive technique for modelling and implementing variety of systems especially Complex Systems. Whilst their similarity to objects in object-oriented systems make them easy to model and implement using extended versions of existing tools, their association with AI and human notion of agency keep them an ever evolving field. In this talk, we will be looking at some of our current projects on emotions and intelligent learning environments to a proposal for a new more concentrated effort for emotionally-aware learning environments by utilising intelligent agents concepts and complex systems principles. The presentation will give general background on Cognitive Agents and Emotions Modelling, and on some interesting recent developments in Complex Systems.

1. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware
Learning Environments
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh
Reader in Artificial Intelligence
De Montfort University
Talk given at Loughborough University
January 8, 2014
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

2. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Agenda
1
2
3
4
5
Agents and Complex Systems
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Oscillating Emotions
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Relevant Projects
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
Emotions in Learning Environments
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Conclusion
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

3. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Notion of Agency: The Principle
Agent technologies have emerged from Artificial Intelligence and Social
Sciences studies to become an emergent filed within the main stream of
Software Engineering. They are a fine example of complex systems and
many of agents-oriented technologies became the base technologies in
areas of System of Systems, Cloud Computing, and Business Intelligence
amongst others.
Yet these technologies are based on the principle notion of Agency. So
what does this mean?
To simplify the explanation let us take any ”agent” type and examine it:
Estate agent (individual)
Travel agent (individual)
Commercial or distribution agent (company)
Chemical agent (substance)
What all these different agents have in common?
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

4. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Notion of Agency: me, myself and I
The notion of agency is encompassed in the individual (the agent) and
it’s abilities to identify itself, consciously or unconsciously, in relation to
it’s self, surrounding and others. This lead us to some of the principles of
agents and agent-oriented systems:
interaction
autonomy
internal representations
behavioural expressions
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

5. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

6. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

7. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
* Scalable
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

8. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
* Scalable
* Robust
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

9. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
* Scalable
* Robust
* Easily Maintainable
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

10. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
* Scalable
* Robust
* Easily Maintainable
* Portable
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

11. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
* Scalable
* Robust
* Easily Maintainable
* Portable
* Adaptable and can easily be Updated
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

12. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
* Scalable
* Robust
* Easily Maintainable
* Portable
* Adaptable and can easily be Updated
This makes agent-based systems in compliance with most of
software engineering desirable system features.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

13. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures I
From software engineering viewpoint, agents are interesting structures
that can be used to build systems with:
* Dynamic architectures
* Scalable
* Robust
* Easily Maintainable
* Portable
* Adaptable and can easily be Updated
This makes agent-based systems in compliance with most of
software engineering desirable system features.
But agents give us more ...
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

14. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures II
The flexibility of the agent structure and plasticity of agent’s definition,
allow us to define an agent as:
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

15. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures II
The flexibility of the agent structure and plasticity of agent’s definition,
allow us to define an agent as:
- A simple data structure such as a mindless particle that is
represented by Position and Velocity < P, V >
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

16. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures II
The flexibility of the agent structure and plasticity of agent’s definition,
allow us to define an agent as:
- A simple data structure such as a mindless particle that is
represented by Position and Velocity < P, V >
- An encompassing structure like classes in OOP with the addition of
a communication interface, such is the case with most of software
agents.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

17. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures II
The flexibility of the agent structure and plasticity of agent’s definition,
allow us to define an agent as:
- A simple data structure such as a mindless particle that is
represented by Position and Velocity < P, V >
- An encompassing structure like classes in OOP with the addition of
a communication interface, such is the case with most of software
agents.
- An all encompassing system with a degree of autonomy and
communication and interaction protocols, such is the case with
cognitive agents. The complexity of the system can vary and so does
the level of intelligence.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

18. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures III
In other words, agents can go from
That exhibits intelligence only in a collective
to
that requires a psychologist!
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

19. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures III
In other words, agents can go from
The Primitive
That exhibits intelligence only in a collective
to
that requires a psychologist!
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

20. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Agents as structures and architectures III
In other words, agents can go from
The Primitive
That exhibits intelligence only in a collective
to
The Emotional
that requires a psychologist!
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

21. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Platforms
There are several platforms for agents-based system development.
- Jade
- Repast-Simphony
- Netlogo
- Agentlets
- Jason
- FIPA-OS
Two good sources of information on platforms and agents standards are
FIPA and EU AgentLink.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

22. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Concepts and Terminology
Some basic concepts and terminologies that distinguish agent-oriented
systems.
- Delegation
- Responsibility
- Social Norms
- Trust
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

23. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Notion of Agency
Agents as structures and architectures
Context
Context and Limitation
Agents-oriented systems field is large and wide in scope. It is by nature a
multi-disciplinary subject criss-crossing multiple areas.
Thus this talk, whilst giving a birds-eye view of agent technologies, will
focus on specific component of an agent, that is
The Representational System
In particular on representing Emotions, especially in the context of
Learning Environments (LE).
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

24. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Modelling Emotions
Emotions work as regulators of human behaviours. They influence the
actions selection process.
In some cases, they act as mere preference, which often view as a
reflection of the personality of the actor.
In other cases, emotions are too complicated to understand in separation
of the full cognitive architecture of the human mind.
Modelling emotions oscillate between these two facts even in psychology
of emotions one finds several theories from simple set of basic emotions
to emotional spaces.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

25. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotions Models I
The simplest of emotion models are models based on Darwain’s basic
emotions: Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Surprise, Disgust.
The interpretation of these emotions into computational models vary
from basic thresholds to a set of inference rules.
Another set of computational models of emotions are based on single
emotion theories, in particular stress.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

26. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotions Models II
We worked with three psychological theories of emotions:
We examined these models in reinforcement learning, game character
controller and facial expression analysis.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

27. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotions Models II
We worked with three psychological theories of emotions:
1
Darwin’s Basic Emotions using both discreet and fuzzy set
representation.
We examined these models in reinforcement learning, game character
controller and facial expression analysis.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

28. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotions Models II
We worked with three psychological theories of emotions:
1
Darwin’s Basic Emotions using both discreet and fuzzy set
representation.
2
Milenson 3 dimensional space of emotions using fuzzy sets type I
and II, and swarm-based emotional model.
We examined these models in reinforcement learning, game character
controller and facial expression analysis.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

29. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotions Models II
We worked with three psychological theories of emotions:
1
Darwin’s Basic Emotions using both discreet and fuzzy set
representation.
2
Milenson 3 dimensional space of emotions using fuzzy sets type I
and II, and swarm-based emotional model.
3
Geneva wheel inspired model of emotions using fuzzy sets type I and
II
We examined these models in reinforcement learning, game character
controller and facial expression analysis.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

30. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotional Swarms I
One of key applications of agent-based swarm intelligence is crowd
simulation.
The simplest form of crowd is flocks of birds, thus one of the earliest and
most successful swarm intelligence algorithms is flocking algorithm.
In simulating human crowd, however, flocking-like algorithms give us
limited scope for realistic simulation.
Injecting crow elements with aspects of emotional models to influence
their action selection, produces interesting results, e.g. panic as an
emergent behaviour rather than coded.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

31. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotional Swarms II
The greatest use of swarm algorithms, which sometimes exceed their
original use in simulations, is optimization. Several machine learning
algorithms were produced for this purpose:
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

32. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotional Swarms II
The greatest use of swarm algorithms, which sometimes exceed their
original use in simulations, is optimization. Several machine learning
algorithms were produced for this purpose:
1
Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is very popular with engineering
applications and in most cases provide an alternative to GAs. The
swarm element here is the mindless particle. Agent technologies
have little or nothing to do with it.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

33. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Emotional Swarms II
The greatest use of swarm algorithms, which sometimes exceed their
original use in simulations, is optimization. Several machine learning
algorithms were produced for this purpose:
1
Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is very popular with engineering
applications and in most cases provide an alternative to GAs. The
swarm element here is the mindless particle. Agent technologies
have little or nothing to do with it.
2
Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is an advanced variation on Ant
System and is very popular with solving optimization problems that
can be presented as graphs, e.g. networks. Agent technologies play
core role in developing these algorithms.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

34. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Social Cognition
There are variations on insects and other biological agents like swarms.
The more complex the agents involved the more complex is the
interaction and the role that sensing-feeling-emotions regulators can play
such is the case in reinforcement learning.
This introduces the subject of social cognition which is at the heart of
many applications of crowd simulation and it is applications in business
intelligence, building design, urban development, etc.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

35. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Modelling Emotions
Emotional Swarms
Social Cognition
There are variations on insects and other biological agents like swarms.
The more complex the agents involved the more complex is the
interaction and the role that sensing-feeling-emotions regulators can play
such is the case in reinforcement learning.
This introduces the subject of social cognition which is at the heart of
many applications of crowd simulation and it is applications in business
intelligence, building design, urban development, etc.
- Social Networking ...
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

36. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
eLearning I
eLearning systems are by nature distributed and dynamic systems which
are perfect for the use of agents technologies.
We used agents to manage the infrastructure of eLearning systems on
data girds.
We used them to manage the learning process itself to enable student
mobility between institutes and course programs.
But as the use of serious gaming and mobile devices is expanding there
are several venues where agents can be used. Such as ...
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

37. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
eLearning II
- Agents, coupled with gaming technologies, can be avatars for the
learner in virtual and distributed class rooms.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

38. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
eLearning II
- Agents, coupled with gaming technologies, can be avatars for the
learner in virtual and distributed class rooms.
- Agents, coupled with preference models, can be the engines behind
interactive HCI to enable the learning process.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

39. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
eLearning II
- Agents, coupled with gaming technologies, can be avatars for the
learner in virtual and distributed class rooms.
- Agents, coupled with preference models, can be the engines behind
interactive HCI to enable the learning process.
- Agents, coupled with policy languages, NLP, gaming and emotions,
can be virtual managers of the user interaction with an eLearning
system.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

40. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
Mobility I
Mobile devices are spreading at a rapid speed not seen with any other
technology. To enable these devices a host of hardware and software
infrastructures were developed, continue to be developed and need
continuous maintenance and management.
Agent technologies provide solutions at the various levels of mobility from
managing network infrastructure, to services run on the network, to
services provided to the end user.
As an example for location-based services ...
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

41. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
Mobility II
With the introduction of easily accessible smartphones, Cloud
Computing, 4G mobile networks, Web 2.0, and Social Media
technologies, data volumes and availability are increasing exponentially.
Dynamic scalable system architectures and new protocols to implement
these systems are ever more needed.
Equally, systems that exploit this rich stream of data are also in
demands. Thus ...
Content management * Sentiment Analysis * Profiling * Security
are some of mobility research concerns that criss-cross agent-oriented
systems research and technologies.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

42. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
eLearning
Mobility
Text Mining
Text Mining
Text mining is an application field of agents as well as a necessary
technology needed by intelligent agents, which may form the basis to
dialogue based systems.
Knowledge intensive agents are often used in text mining. Agent
technologies here include: Blackboard architectures, Description logics,
and Ontology.
Text mining algorithms may be used in agents forming part of business
intelligence system, or agent-based dialogue systems for HCI.
Sentiment analysis is currently a hot topic in computational emotions
research.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

43. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Emotions in ITS - I
Going back to our starting point about the Notion of Agency, and the
examples of estate agents, that exact notion makes agent technologies
great for delivering services to the end user, i.e. HCI.
The flexibility of agent-oriented systems also means that we do not have
to develop a full agent or multi-agent system to use agent technology.
So whilst it is not necessary to develop a full cognitive agent in an
eLearning system interface, emotions and emotion models developed
elsewhere can be used.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

44. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Emotions in ITS - II
In delivering lectures or labs, a tutor can detect interest and
concentration levels in the students.
According to this highly heuristic human system, the tutor, often to
successful results, adjust the delivery of the lecture to maintain interest in
the subject for the majority of the class.
eLearning systems in general and Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) in
particular lack this much needed ability. Unless ...
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

45. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Emotions in ITS - III
We are trying to detect subtle emotional expressions from Facial
Expressions to discern the learner emotional state, and hence
concentration and interest levels.
This focuses on translating facial expressions into emotional model into
”affect” or ”mental” states into an intelligent response by ITS into an
adaptive user-centred service delivery.
This may be extended later to include Gestures.
Then it may be extended further to incorporate work being done at DMU
on detecting single emotion, stress, from non-visual devices.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

46. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Emotions in Game-Based MLE
This is a new project which is at a proposal stage. The idea is to use
game technologies coupled with emotions and preference modelling to
deliver some difficult Engineering topics. Some of the aims are:
The details at this stage is limited but hopefully more will be available
later in the year.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

47. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Emotions in Game-Based MLE
This is a new project which is at a proposal stage. The idea is to use
game technologies coupled with emotions and preference modelling to
deliver some difficult Engineering topics. Some of the aims are:
- To relate the topics to real world by which the complexity can be
reduced and concepts can be explained in more accessible forms.
The details at this stage is limited but hopefully more will be available
later in the year.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

48. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Emotions in Game-Based MLE
This is a new project which is at a proposal stage. The idea is to use
game technologies coupled with emotions and preference modelling to
deliver some difficult Engineering topics. Some of the aims are:
- To relate the topics to real world by which the complexity can be
reduced and concepts can be explained in more accessible forms.
- To retain attention of the student and encourage engagement and
active participation with the topics.
The details at this stage is limited but hopefully more will be available
later in the year.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

49. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Complex Systems Network
As an associate member of Institut des Syst`mes Complexes en
e
Normandie (ISCN) I am engaged in multi-disciplinary Complex Systems
Network in Europe. The most current project is being UniTwin UNESCO
CS-DC Project. One of the main aims of the project is to connect
Universities from developing countries with Universities from developed
countries.
This in part inspired the following project ...
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

50. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Collaboration with Valencia University
Collaboration with DMU Engineering
Complex Systems Network and New Projects
Complex Systems Approach to Emotions
We are already using emotions in learning environments. We have done
work on agents-managed grid systems for eLearning and on policy-based
system supporting student mobility. All of which would be of useful in
international twinning of Universities.
Similarly, we worked on non-standard approaches to emotion modelling
that aligns well with Complex Systems.
Can we develop an integrated platform for Complex Systems Approach
for the use of Emotions in Learning Environments and Emotionally-aware
LEs?
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments

51. Agents and Complex Systems
Oscillating Emotions
Relevant Projects
Emotions in Learning Environments
Conclusion
Conclusion
In this talk, we travelled quickly amongst agent technologies to emotions
modeling to intellgient tutoring systems (ITS) to learning environments
(LE).
Our focus was on emotions and emotion modelling in particular with
related current collaborative projects and future possible projects.
If you are interested in discussing any of the projects or collaboration on
any of the upcoming projects please do contact me.
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh
aayesh@dmu.ac.uk – dr.aladdin.ayesh@ieee.org
www.aladdin-ayesh.info
Dr. Aladdin Ayesh Reader in Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems Approach to Emotionally-aware Learning Environments