Abstract: Techniques for modifying user behavior and screening for impairment using a mobile feedback controller, such as a smartwatch, are provided. In one aspect, a method for monitoring a user includes the steps of: collecting real-time data from the user, wherein the data is collected via a mobile feedback controller worn by the user; determining whether the data collected from the user indicates impairment; determining appropriate corrective actions to be taken if the data collected from the user indicates impairment, otherwise continuing to collect data from the user in real-time; determining whether any action is needed; and undertaking the appropriate corrective actions if action is needed, otherwise continuing to collect data from the user in real-time.

Abstract: An anonymized biometric representation of a target individual is used in a computer based security system. A detailed input biometric signal associated with a target individual is obtained. A weakened biometric representation of the detailed biometric signal is constructed such that the weakened biometric representation is designed to identify a plurality of individuals including the target individual. The target individual is enrolled in a data store associated with the computer based security system wherein the weakened biometric representation is included in a record for the target individual. In another aspect of the invention, a detailed input biometric signal from a screening candidate individual is obtained. The detailed biometric signal of the screening candidate is matched against the weakened biometric representation included in the record for the target individual.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method manages remote electronic drop-ins on local conversations. A local audio sensor transmits a captured conversation from a local cluster of persons to a remote communication device where members of the local cluster of persons are within a predefined distance of one another, and where the remote communication device is at a location that is beyond a human hearing range from the local audio sensor. One or more processors determine that the captured conversation is about a particular topic. A request from a remote user is received from the remote communication device to electronically drop in on a particular remote cluster of persons who are having a conversation about the particular topic. In response to receiving the request from the remote user, one or more processors selectively connect a local communication device proximate to the cluster of persons to the remote communication device.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems, and computer program products for detection and remediation of anxiety. Aspects include receiving an anxiety indicator. Aspects also include analyzing the anxiety indicator to determine whether an anxiety level exceeds an anxiety threshold. Aspects also include, based upon a determination that the anxiety level exceeds the anxiety threshold, selecting a first sound. Aspects also include outputting the first sound. Aspects also include receiving an anxiety feedback. Aspects also include determining, based upon the anxiety feedback, whether the anxiety level is decreasing.

Abstract: A method includes the following steps. An acoustic input is obtained from a user, including issuing a verbal prompt to the user and receiving the acoustic input from the user in response to the verbal prompt. One or more acoustic representations are obtained, wherein the one or more acoustic representations are generated from a list of expected responses to the issued verbal prompt. The acoustic input from the user is compared to the one or more acoustic representations. One or more speech recognition parameters are adjusted based on the comparison.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method manages drop-ins on conversations near a focal point of proximal activity in a gathering place. One or more processors receive a first set of sensor data from one or more sensors in a gathering place, and then identify a focal point of proximal activity based on the first set of received sensor data received from the one or more sensors. One or more processors characterize a conversation near the focal point based on a second set of received sensor data from the one or more sensors, and then present a characterization of the conversation to an electronic device. One or more processors enable the electronic device to allow a user to drop-in on the conversation.

Abstract: An anonymized biometric representation of a target individual is used in a computer based security system. A detailed input biometric signal associated with a target individual is obtained. A weakened biometric representation of the detailed biometric signal is constructed such that the weakened biometric representation is designed to identify a plurality of individuals including the target individual. The target individual is enrolled in a data store associated with the computer based security system wherein the weakened biometric representation is included in a record for the target individual. In another aspect of the invention, a detailed input biometric signal from a screening candidate individual is obtained. The detailed biometric signal of the screening candidate is matched against the weakened biometric representation included in the record for the target individual.

Abstract: A method includes the following steps. An acoustic input is obtained from a user, including issuing a verbal prompt to the user and receiving the acoustic input from the user in response to the verbal prompt. One or more acoustic representations are obtained, wherein the one or more acoustic representations are generated from a list of expected responses to the issued verbal prompt. The acoustic input from the user is compared to the one or more acoustic representations. One or more speech recognition parameters are adjusted based on the comparison.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions using the sensing capabilities of wearable mobile technology. In one aspect, a method for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions includes the steps of: collecting real-time data from a driver of a vehicle, wherein the data is collected via a mobile device worn by the driver; determining whether the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists; providing feedback to the driver if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists, and continuing to collect data from the driver in real-time if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition does not exist. The real-time data may also be collected and used to learn characteristics of the driver. These characteristics can be compared with the data being collected to help determine, in real-time, whether the driving behavior is normal and whether a hazardous driving condition exists.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of analyzing an image of a user to determine whether the image is authentic, where a first image of a user's face is received with a camera. Four or more two-dimensional feature points can be located that do not lie on the same two-dimensional plane. Additional images of the user's face can be received; and, the at least four two-dimensional feature points can be located on each additional image with the image processor. The image processor can identify displacements between the two-dimensional feature points on the additional image and the two-dimensional feature points on the first image for each additional image. A processor can determine whether the displacements conform to a three-dimensional surface model. The processor can determine whether to authenticate the user based on the determination of whether the displacements conform to the three-dimensional surface model.

Abstract: Non-acoustic data from a vicinity of speech input is obtained. A subject speaker is identified as the source of the speech input from the obtained non-acoustic data by detecting mouth motion on one or more faces segmented from the non-acoustic data by comparing a first pixel intensity associated at a first time with a second pixel intensity at a second time, and selecting a face corresponding to the subject speaker from the one or more faces in response to a determination that a number of significantly changed pixels between the first pixel intensity and the second pixel intensity exceeds a threshold. A demographic is assigned to the subject speaker based on an analysis of one or more non-acoustic attributes of the subject speaker extracted from the non-acoustic data. The speech input is processed using a speech recognition system adjusted using a model selected based on the demographic.

Abstract: An anonymized biometric representation of a target individual is used in a computer based security system. A detailed input biometric signal associated with a target individual is obtained. A weakened biometric representation of the detailed biometric signal is constructed such that the weakened biometric representation is designed to identify a plurality of individuals including the target individual. The target individual is enrolled in a data store associated with the computer based security system wherein the weakened biometric representation is included in a record for the target individual. In another aspect of the invention, a detailed input biometric signal from a screening candidate individual is obtained. The detailed biometric signal of the screening candidate is matched against the weakened biometric representation included in the record for the target individual.

Abstract: Non-acoustic data from a vicinity of speech input is obtained. A subject speaker is identified as the source of the speech input from the obtained non-acoustic data by detecting mouth motion on one or more faces segmented from the non-acoustic data by comparing a first pixel intensity associated at a first time with a second pixel intensity at a second time, and selecting a face corresponding to the subject speaker from the one or more faces in response to a determination that a number of significantly changed pixels between the first pixel intensity and the second pixel intensity exceeds a threshold. A demographic is assigned to the subject speaker based on an analysis of one or more non-acoustic attributes of the subject speaker extracted from the non-acoustic data. The speech input is processed using a speech recognition system adjusted using a model selected based on the demographic.

Abstract: A system for monitoring participants in a group includes one or more thermal image capturing devices configured to capture one or more thermal images of a plurality of participants in an event, and a processing device configured to receive the one or more thermal images and identification data for at least one of the plurality of participants. The processing device is configured to perform a method that includes identifying the at least one of the plurality of participants, calculating a heat profile of the at least one of the plurality of participants, comparing the heat profile to a reference profile, and determining whether a deviation exists between the heat profile and the reference profile. The method also includes, based on detecting the deviation, calculating a magnitude of the deviation and determining whether a health risk exists based on the magnitude of the deviation.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions using the sensing capabilities of wearable mobile technology. In one aspect, a method for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions includes the steps of: collecting real-time data from a driver of a vehicle, wherein the data is collected via a mobile device worn by the driver; determining whether the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists; providing feedback to the driver if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists, and continuing to collect data from the driver in real-time if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition does not exist. The real-time data may also be collected and used to learn characteristics of the driver. These characteristics can be compared with the data being collected to help determine, in real-time, whether the driving behavior is normal and whether a hazardous driving condition exists.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions using the sensing capabilities of wearable mobile technology. In one aspect, a method for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions includes the steps of: collecting real-time data from a driver of a vehicle, wherein the data is collected via a mobile device worn by the driver; determining whether the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists; providing feedback to the driver if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists, and continuing to collect data from the driver in real-time if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition does not exist. The real-time data may also be collected and used to learn characteristics of the driver. These characteristics can be compared with the data being collected to help determine, in real-time, whether the driving behavior is normal and whether a hazardous driving condition exists.

Abstract: Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for safeguarding biometric data. Aspects include receiving a first biometric data unit and generating a template based upon the first biometric data unit. Aspects also include sending the template to a plurality of external template storage devices, each template storage device having a unique device identifier. Aspects also include generating a biometric query including a second biometric data unit. Aspects also include sending the biometric query to at least some of the plurality of external template storage devices. Aspects also include receiving a match score from at least one of the plurality of template storage devices external to the processor, wherein the match score reflects the degree of similarity between the first biometric data unit and the second biometric data unit.

Abstract: A method includes the following steps. A speech input is received. At least two speech recognition candidates are generated from the speech input. A scene related to the speech input is observed using one or more non-acoustic sensors. The observed scene is segmented into one or more regions. One or more properties for the one or more regions are computed. One of the speech recognition candidates is selected based on the one or more computed properties of the one or more regions.

Abstract: An anonymized biometric representation of a target individual is used in a computer based security system. A detailed input biometric signal associated with a target individual is obtained. A weakened biometric representation of the detailed biometric signal is constructed such that the weakened biometric representation is designed to identify a plurality of individuals including the target individual. The target individual is enrolled in a data store associated with the computer based security system wherein the weakened biometric representation is included in a record for the target individual. In another aspect of the invention, a detailed input biometric signal from a screening candidate individual is obtained. The detailed biometric signal of the screening candidate is matched against the weakened biometric representation included in the record for the target individual.

Abstract: Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for proximity feedback for medication identification. Aspects include accessing, via a user device, a profile data for the user; reading, via the user device, identification data from an identification tag on an object; obtaining information associated with the identification data, wherein the information is associated with contents of the object; and providing a feedback to the user via the user device, the feedback is based upon the information and an interaction between the user of the user device and the object.