Biological Sensor Fusion Using Information Request for Dependable Web-based CSCW Systems

In Web-based CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work), remote members communicate their intentions in cyberspace. However, different from face-to-face communication, partners' situations including their interest, concentration, boredom, and tiredness cannot be easily transmitted. Oversight and mishearing of remote partners is often overlooked. Besides, it is further difficult to understand their real intentions sufficiently. To overcome these problems, biological sensor fusion for dependable Web-based CSCW Systems is proposed. This assesses or estimates situations of remote users through fusing information of multiple biological sensors and the related general contexts. By transmitting and using information of estimated users' situations, the system enriches the cyberspace through stressing or providing warnings by multimedia. This paper clarifies the mechanism of sensor fusion engine. In this mechanism, by making information requests to different algorithms to improve estimation accuracy based on analysis of higher layers, namely situation synthesis and analysis layers, robust face recognition is realized.