Abstract: A two-phase recommendation system for a recommendation device, employing both an external recommendation process and an internal, to a recommendation device, recommendation process. In particular, a processing unit uses a first data file, which is modifiable by an external source, and a second data file stored in a memory unit to recommend one or more content items to a user. The first and second data files are stored in a memory unit of the recommendation device.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus for providing feedback to a participant directing a communication to one or more other participants. The apparatus (100) comprises a processor (102) configured to acquire, from one or more physiological characteristic sensors (104), one or more physiological characteristic signals from at least one participant to which the communication is directed as the communication is received by the at least one participant. The processor (102) is also configured to determine a measure of the quality of the communication based on a comparison of the one or more physiological characteristic signals acquired from the at least one participant with one or more expected physiological characteristic signals and control a user interface (108) to provide feedback of the determined quality measure of the communication to the participant directing the communication to the at least one participant.

Abstract: A method for an alarm silencing or suppression routine following activation of a wake-up alarm on an electronic device (42). The method comprises, following the alarm activation, monitoring (14) light levels at a light sensor (44) of the device and automatically silencing (20) or otherwise suppressing the alarm signal responsive to sensing (16) a light level at the sensor above a pre-defined threshold. Following alarm signal suppression, a further confirmatory monitoring period follows in which light levels at the sensor continue to be monitored (22). If they fall to below a further predefined threshold (26), or below the original silencing threshold, the alarm signal is reactivated (28). This ensures that a user has not returned to a darkened environment a short space of time after alarm silencing, which might lead to the user falling back to sleep.

Abstract: A method for an alarm silencing or suppression routine following activation of a wake-up alarm on an electronic device (42). The method comprises, following the alarm activation, monitoring (14) light levels at a light sensor (44) of the device and automatically silencing (20) or otherwise suppressing the alarm signal responsive to sensing (16) a light level at the sensor above a pre-defined threshold. Following alarm signal suppression, a further confirmatory monitoring period follows in which light levels at the sensor continue to be monitored (22). If they fall to below a further predefined threshold (26), or below the original silencing threshold, the alarm signal is reactivated (28). This ensures that a user has not returned to a darkened environment a short space of time after alarm silencing, which might lead to the user falling back to sleep.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus for providing feedback to a participant directing a communication to one or more other participants. The apparatus (100) comprises a processor (102) configured to acquire, from one or more physiological characteristic sensors (104), one or more physiological characteristic signals from at least one participant to which the communication is directed as the communication is received by the at least one participant. The processor (102) is also configured to determine a measure of the quality of the communication based on a comparison of the one or more physiological characteristic signals acquired from the at least one participant with one or more expected physiological characteristic signals and control a user interface (108) to provide feedback of the determined quality measure of the communication to the participant directing the communication to the at least one participant.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to generate an adaptive embodied conversational agent to provide interactive virtual coaching to a subject. The system comprises a user interface, one or more hardware processors, and a display. The user interface is configured to obtain input information related to the subject. The one or more hardware processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to: determine a customized digital coaching plan for the subject; and generate visual and/or audio signals that convey the appearance and behavior of the adaptive embodied conversational agent based on the customized digital coaching plan, and/or based on a relationship parameter. The display is configured to receive the generated visual and/or audio signals and cause presentation of the adaptive embodied conversational agent on the display to provide the customized digital coaching plan to the subject interactively.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving contextual information for a user; updating a user state based on the received contextual information; providing electronic interventions to the user over a first interval by executing a first intervention algorithm based on the updated user state; and providing electronic interventions to the user over a second interval based on executing a second intervention algorithm that maximizes a reward function based on a further updated user state of the user and the electronic interventions of the first interval, the second intervention algorithm of a different type than the first intervention algorithm.

Abstract: Increasingly, conversational systems are used in coaching or supportive contexts, either in an embodied form (e.g., as an avatar in an app or website) or just in a speech-driven for (e.g. Siri). There is a need to keep such systems interesting and appealing over time in order to prevent the user from reducing use of the system or abandoning the system all together. The present system is configured to learn new expressions from user utterances and use them based on their predicted utility during interactions with the user. The present system includes components configured for learning new vocabulary and selecting vocabulary for generating new utterances from the system. This way, the system continually expands its vocabulary database with expressions familiar to and/or used by the user and will be able to engage the user with new utterances so that the user does not lose interest in the system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for distributed coaching. A plurality of distributed intervention processes each calculate a priority for an intervention technique based on received user data. Then, a central arbiter process selects at least one intervention technique based on the associated priorities to be transmitted to a user to provide a tailored coaching experience for the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprising receiving an electronic message, the electronic message comprising a first motivational message; determining any one or a combination of a coaching style or content personalized to a user based on an analysis of the first motivational message; and setting any one or a combination of the coaching style or content for future electronic messages directed to the user based on a confidence of the determination meeting a threshold confidence level.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coaching a user. The system and methods of various calculate at least one relationship determinant value based on a user's behavior. A relationship index value that represents the status of the relationship between a user and a virtual coach is calculated from the determinant value(s). At least one parameter of a coaching plan is then adjusted based on the calculated relationship index value.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to generate an adaptive embodied conversational agent to provide interactive virtual coaching to a subject. The system comprises a user interface, one or more hardware processors, and a display. The user interface is configured to obtain input information related to the subject. The one or more hardware processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to: determine a customized digital coaching plan for the subject; and generate visual and/or audio signals that convey the appearance and behavior of the adaptive embodied conversational agent based on the customized digital coaching plan, and/or based on a relationship parameter. The display is configured to receive the generated visual and/or audio signals and cause presentation of the adaptive embodied conversational agent on the display to provide the customized digital coaching plan to the subject interactively.

Abstract: Increasingly, conversational systems are used in coaching or supportive contexts, either in an embodied form (e.g., as an avatar in an app or website) or just in a speech-driven for (e.g. Siri). There is a need to keep such systems interesting and appealing over time in order to prevent the user from reducing use of the system or abandoning the system all together. The present system is configured to learn new expressions from user utterances and use them based on their predicted utility during interactions with the user. The present system includes components configured for learning new vocabulary and selecting vocabulary for generating new utterances from the system. This way, the system continually expands its vocabulary database with expressions familiar to and/or used by the user and will be able to engage the user with new utterances so that the user does not lose interest in the system.