A multimodal emotion detection system during human-robot interaction.

In this paper, a multimodal user-emotion detection system for social robots is presented. This system is intended to be used during human-robot interaction, and it is integrated as part of the overall interaction system of the robot: the Robotics Dialog System (RDS). Two modes are used to detect emotions: the voice and face expression analysis.

User localization during human-robot interaction.

This paper presents a user localization system based on the fusion of visual information and sound source localization, implemented on a social robot called Maggie. One of the main requisites to obtain a natural interaction between human-human and human-robot is an adequate spatial situation between the interlocutors, that is, to be orientated and situated at the right distance during the conversation in order to have a satisfactory communicative process. Our social robot uses a complete multimodal dialog system which manages the user-robot interaction during the communicative process.

Attitudes of general practitioners in Bizkaia, Spain, towards the terminally ill patient.

This paper reports the results of a survey of general practitioners in Biscay which investigated the types of narcotics used in the treatment of chronic malignant pain, the degree of their use and the difficulties encountered both in the use of narcotics and the general care of the terminally ill patient. We found that (1) 50% of the doctors surveyed used narcotics in the treatment of at least 60% of their patients with terminal disease; (2) morphine is the most frequently used narcotic, usually being given orally, and (3) those who completed the questionnaire showed themselves to be highly motivated when treating terminally ill patients. However, they considered that their motivation exceeded their level of competence and, according to the majority, collaboration between the different health services and the formation of interdisciplinary teams would be the best way to facilitate an increase in competence.