Abstract: The disclosure describes an audio-based emotion recognition system that is able to classify emotions in real-time. The emotion recognition system, according to some embodiments, adjusts the behavior of intelligent systems, such as a virtual coach, depending on the user's emotion, thereby providing an improved user experience. Embodiments of the emotion recognition system and method use short utterances as real-time speech from the user and use prosodic and phonetic features, such as fundamental frequency, amplitude, and Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients, as the main set of features by which the human speech is characterized. In addition, certain embodiments of the present invention use One-Against-All or Two-Stage classification systems to determine different emotions. A minimum-error feature removal mechanism is further provided in alternate embodiments to reduce bandwidth and increase accuracy of the emotion recognition system.

Abstract: A portable computer system with an ergonomic input device is comprised of a housing having a top surface. A central processing unit is carried in the housing. A heads-up display is provided for displaying information to a user, with certain of the information being selectable by the user. The display is under the control of the central processing unit. A first rotary switch produces a first input signal for identifying the information to be selected. A second input switch produces a second input signal for selecting the identified information. Both the first and second input switches are carried on the top surface of the housing. An input interface receives the first and second input signals and encodes the information therein into an eight bit byte for input to the central processing unit. In one embodiment, the housing may be carried in a case which is worn by the user while the heads-up display is positioned proximate to the user's eye by a headband.

Abstract: A portable computer system with an ergonomic input device is comprised of a housing having a top surface. A central processing unit is carried in the housing. A heads-up display is provided for displaying information to a user, with certain of the information being selectable by the user. The display is under the control of the central processing unit. A first rotary switch produces a first input signal for identifying the information to be selected. A second input switch produces a second input signal for selecting the identified information. Both the first and second input switches are carried on the top surface of the housing. An input interface receives the first and second input signals and encodes the information therein into an eight bit byte for input to the central processing unit. In one embodiment, the housing may be carried in a case which is worn by the user while the heads-up display is positioned proximate to the user's eye by a headband.