Affective computing and loneliness: how this approach could improve a support system

Affective computing is an emerging research field, which turns out particularly important in a number of applications. In principle, it is supposed to allow the knowledge of the emotional condition of people (through an identification of their feelings) as an input aimed to help computer systems in deciding what information is convenient to provide people as a support to their present activities and to choose the most appropriate interface with the environment. This approach may present remarkable advantages in several application fields, such as e.g. independent living, e-learning, marketing or security. The aim of this contribution is to identify the present technical feasibility of this approach, meant to assess, describe and take care of the general psychological status of people, in connection with the new concepts of health and well-being. In order to test the possible impact of the approach, the integration of available technology and concepts about well-being in a support system is under development in the IFAC laboratory to deal with the loneliness status. Loneliness is not a pathology, but, according to scientific literature, can favour a large number of diseases. That's why the development of a support system which is able to recognize the situation and to provide appropriate recommendations to mitigate possible risks is an activity of particular interest.