Prof. Dr. Junpei Joni Zhong, University of Wollongong (College Hong Kong).

August 7, 2025

In this talk, Prof. Zhong will explore how human-centered technologies can help address the challenges faced by ageing populations. The effectiveness of assistive technologies should be measured not only by their accuracy and success rates, but also by user feedback, in particular affective responses, as these are closely linked to mental health and overall quality of life in older adults. To build emotionally aware systems, it is essential to ensure an easy and intuitive learning curve, next to the system being capable of intelligently addressing users’ needs.

To achieve this, Prof. Zhang employs AI models and novel non-invasive technologies using multimodal data, such as speech prosody, facial micro-expressions, or vital signs, that can detect subtle emotional states, such as loneliness and anxiety. Beyond traditional gesture-based input devices, various machine learning techniques have been applied to create adaptive and accessible interfaces tailored to elderly users. Furthermore, we are developing an emotion-driven feedback mechanism for reinforcement learning, enabling the system to personalize care by learning and adapting to individual user preferences.

Speaker Biography

Junpei Joni Zhong is an assistant professor at University of Wollongong (College Hong Kong). He received the B.Eng. degree from the South China University of Technology, China, in 2006, the M.Phil. degree from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, in 2010, and the Ph.D. degree from the Department of Computer Science, University of Hamburg, Germany, in 2015. He specializes in machine learning, robotics, and cognitive science. His research endeavors are dedicated to the development of human-centric AI systems, focusing on innovative applications.

Feature image by Prashanth NS