Visual Computing Lab @ ISE/UAlg

About the lab

Founded in 2012, VClab carries out Human-Centered Computing research with a strong applied focus.

The lab designs and builds intelligent systems in which people come first, from the earliest idea to the finished product or service. Our work sits where visual computing, artificial intelligence and human experience meet.

Research topics

Affective computing
Human senses
Human-centered AI
Human-computer interaction
Machine learning
Computer vision
Data science
Operations research
Cybersecurity
Adaptive interfaces

Research center

VClab researchers are members of the NOVA LINCS research center, in the Multimodal Systems group.

NOVA LINCS – UAlg branch

Research areas

People naturally read each other's emotions from posture, facial expression, words and tone, and adjust how they communicate. We believe machines should do the same: observe behaviour, adapt to each person's goals, tasks, context and feelings, and offer the right information at the right moment. This is the basis of our work in AI, where we build models that learn from data to support decisions while keeping people in control.

Human-centered artificial intelligence

HCAI

AI systems that extend human abilities instead of replacing them, built to be transparent, fair, respectful of privacy and guided by human values and well-being.

Affective computing is a core topic: giving systems the ability to recognise and respond to emotions, with applications ranging from mental health support to socially assistive robotics and more empathetic interfaces.

Human-computer interaction is central too. Taking a user-centric approach, we design adaptive interfaces that fit each person's needs and preferences, and immersive systems that engage the five human senses.

Anomaly detection

Data analysis for detecting and preventing faults in machines and in infrastructure consumption, as well as for behaviour analysis.

This line connects to the Sustainable Development Goals, for example by anticipating the needs of people and plants to cut water use. Our data science work turns large, complex datasets into patterns and insights that support better decisions.

Cybersecurity is a newer direction: identifying unusual events and data that depart from expected behaviour, and developing methods to prevent cyberattacks or limit their impact.

Laboratory coordinators

João M. F. Rodrigues

Laboratory Coordinator

Full Professor at the Institute of Engineering, University of the Algarve. Habilitation in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ph.D. in Electronics and Computer Engineering, M.Sc. in Computer Systems Engineering, and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering.

R&D unit: NOVA LINCS – UAlg
Email: jrodrig@ualg.pt

Computer vision
Human-computer interaction
Affective computing
Human-centered AI

UAlg profile Personal page

Pedro J. S. Cardoso

Laboratory Coordinator

Professor at the Institute of Engineering, University of the Algarve. Ph.D. in Mathematics/Operations Research from the University of Seville (Spain), M.Sc. in Computational Mathematics from the University of Minho, and B.Sc. in Mathematics/Computer Science from the University of Coimbra (Portugal).

R&D unit: NOVA LINCS – UAlg
Email: pcardoso@ualg.pt

Operational research
Machine learning
Affective computing
Data science

Personal page

Who we are

We are a small team of researchers driven by innovation and quality. Whether developing new computer vision algorithms, intelligent systems that adapt to changing conditions, or data science methods that reveal useful knowledge, we enjoy taking on hard problems.

See the full team on the microsite

More information and details can be found at Visual Computing Lab (microsite).

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