Facial expression recognition in educational learning systems

1. A computer-implemented method for participating in a learning session over a collaborative network, the method comprising:

presenting an interface at a participant workstation comprising a processor, the interface comprising a current instructional content display and an avatar status display;

receiving user image data of a plurality of users from an input device at a plurality of respective participant workstations, wherein the user image data corresponds to imaging data of a user at a particular time during a presentation of instructional content;

converting the user image data from the particular time into expressive avatar information, the expressive avatar information comprising an avatar identifier and an avatar emotion identifier for each of the plurality of users, the avatar identifier including an emotion value and the avatar emotion identifier including an avatar image, the avatar image being a representation of the corresponding user;

determining a plurality of avatar images corresponding to the plurality of users based on the expressive avatar information;

transmitting through the collaborative network coupled to the participant workstations the expressive avatar information to at least one interface of a participant workstation of a corresponding user of the learning session;

altering instructional content based on a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers of the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of avatar identifiers comprises at least the avatar identifier, and wherein the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers comprises at least the avatar emotion identifier; and

receiving and displaying the altered instructional content on the current instructional content display of the participant workstation, the altered instructional content including the plurality of avatar images to the interface, the plurality of avatar images being displayed in the avatar status display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the user image data into expressive avatar information further comprises:

analyzing the user image data to produce feature data;

classifying the feature data to produce an emotion value;

assigning the emotion value to the avatar emotion identifier; and

associating the avatar emotion identifier with the avatar identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the input device comprises a camera, a video recorder, an integrated camera, a file, a streaming video source, a computer, a portable computer, a mobile device, or a phone.

4. A computer-implemented method for conducting a learning session over a collaborative network, the method comprising:

presenting an interface at an instructor workstation comprising a processor, the instructor interface comprising

a current instructional content display, and

an avatar status display;

receiving expressive avatar information corresponding to imaging data of a user at a particular time during a presentation of instructional content from a plurality of users from an input device at a plurality of respective participant workstations, the expressive avatar information comprising a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers;

determining a plurality of avatar images corresponding to the plurality of users based on the received expressive avatar information, each avatar image being a representation of the corresponding user;

altering the instructional content based on a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers of the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of avatar identifiers comprises at least the avatar identifier, and wherein the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers comprises at least the avatar emotion identifier;

transmitting through the collaborative network coupled to the participant and instructor workstations the altered instructional content to at least one interface of a participant workstation of the plurality of participant workstations; and

receiving and displaying the altered instructional content on the current instructional content display of the participant workstation, the altered instructional content including the plurality of avatar images to the instructor interface, the plurality of avatar images being displayed in the avatar status display.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein altering the instructional content further comprises:

comparing the plurality of avatar identifiers and the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers to a model;

determining whether the expressive avatar information exceeds a threshold of the model; and

when the expressive avatar information exceeds the threshold, altering the instructional content by performing an action associated with the threshold.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising: wherein the instructor interface further comprises an action interface element associated with an action,

the method further comprising receiving a selection of the action interface element,

wherein altering the instructional content further comprises altering the instructional content by performing the action associated with the action interface element on the instructional content.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

displaying a suggestion request interface element on the instructor interface;

receiving a selection of the suggestion request interface element; and

providing a suggested action to alter the instructional content.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein altering the instructional content further comprises:

pausing display of the instructional content;

stopping display of the instructional content;

replacing the instructional content with a second instructional content; or

inserting additional instructional content into the instructional content.

9. A system for participating in a learning session over a collaborative network, the system comprising:

a processor configured to:

present an interface at a participant workstation comprising a processor, the interface comprising a current instructional content display and an avatar status display;

receive user image data of a plurality of users from an input device at a plurality of respective participant workstations, wherein the user image data corresponds to imaging data of a user at a particular time during a presentation of instructional content;

convert the user image data from the particular time into expressive avatar information, the expressive avatar information comprising an avatar identifier and an avatar emotion identifier;

determine a plurality of avatar images corresponding to the plurality of users based on the expressive avatar information, each avatar image being a representation of the corresponding user;

transmit through the collaborative network coupled to the participant workstations the expressive avatar information to at least one interface of a participant workstation of a corresponding user of the learning session;

alter instructional content based on a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers of the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of avatar identifiers comprises at least the avatar identifier, and wherein the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers comprises at least the avatar emotion identifier; and

receive and display the altered instructional content on the current instructional content display of the participant workstation, the altered instructional content including the plurality of avatar images to the interface, the plurality of avatar images being displayed in the avatar status display.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

analyze the user image data to produce feature data;

classify the feature data to produce an emotion value;

assign the emotion value to the avatar emotion identifier; and

associate the avatar emotion identifier with the avatar identifier.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein

the input device comprises a camera, a video recorder, an integrated camera, a file, a streaming video source, a computer, a portable computer, a mobile device, or a phone.

12. A system for conducting a learning session over a collaborative network, the system comprising:

a processor configured to:

present an interface at a participant workstation comprising a processor, the interface comprising

a current instructional content display, and

an avatar status display;

receive expressive avatar information corresponding to imaging data of a user at a particular time during a presentation of instructional content from a plurality of users from an input device at a plurality of respective participant workstations, the expressive avatar information comprising a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers;

determine a plurality of avatar images corresponding to the plurality of users based on the received expressive avatar information, each avatar image being a representation of the corresponding user;

alter the instructional content based on a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers of the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of avatar identifiers comprises at least the avatar identifier, and wherein the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers comprises at least the avatar identifier;

transmit through a collaborative network coupled to the participant workstations the altered instructional content to at least one interface of a participant workstation of the plurality of participant workstations; and

receive and display the altered instructional content on the current instructional content display of the participant workstation, the altered instructional content including the plurality of avatar images to the interface, the plurality of avatar images being displayed in the avatar status display.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the plurality of avatar identifiers and the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers to a model;

determine whether the expressive avatar information exceeds a threshold of the model; and

alter the instructional content by performing an action associated with the threshold if the expressive avatar information exceeds the threshold.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein

the interface further comprises an action interface element associated with an action;

wherein the processor is further configured to receive a selection of the action interface element; and

wherein altering the instructional content further comprises altering the instructional content by performing the action associated with the action interface element on the instructional content.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a suggestion request interface element on the interface;

receive a selection of the suggestion request interface element; and

provide a suggested action to alter the instructional content.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

pause display of the instructional content;

stop display of the instructional content;

replace the instructional content with a second instructional content; or

insert additional instructional content into the instructional content.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for participating in a learning session over a collaborative network, the computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed enable a computing system to:

present an interface at a participant workstation comprising a processor, the interface comprising a current instructional content display and an avatar status display;

receive user image data of a plurality of users from an input device at a plurality of respective participant workstations, wherein the user image data corresponds to imaging data of a user at a particular time during a presentation of instructional content;

convert the user image data from the particular time into expressive avatar information, the expressive avatar information comprising an avatar identifier and an avatar emotion identifier for each of the plurality of users, the avatar identifier including an emotion value and the avatar emotion identifier including an avatar image;

determine a plurality of avatar images corresponding to the plurality of users based on the expressive avatar information, each avatar image being a representation of the corresponding user;

transmit through the collaborative network coupled to the participant workstations the expressive avatar information to at least one interface of a participant workstation of a corresponding user of the learning session;

alter instructional content based on a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers of the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of avatar identifiers comprises at least the avatar identifier, and wherein the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers comprises at least the avatar emotion identifier; and

receive and display the altered instructional content on the current instructional content display of the participant workstation, the altered instructional content including the plurality of avatar images to the interface, the plurality of avatar images being displayed in the avatar status display.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed enable a computing system to:

present an interface at a participant workstation comprising a processor, the interface comprising

a current instructional content display, and

an avatar status display;

receive expressive avatar information corresponding to imaging data of a user at a particular time during a presentation of instructional content from a plurality of users from an input device at a plurality of respective participant workstations, the expressive avatar information comprising a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers;

determine a plurality of avatar images corresponding to the plurality of users based on the received expressive avatar information, each avatar image being a representation of the corresponding user;

alter the instructional content based on a plurality of avatar identifiers and a plurality of avatar emotion identifiers of the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of avatar identifiers comprises at least the avatar identifier, and wherein the plurality of avatar emotion identifiers comprise at least the avatar emotion identifier;

transmit through a collaborative network coupled to the participant workstations the altered instructional content to at least one interface of a participant workstation of the plurality of participant workstations; and

receive and display the altered instructional content on the current instructional content display of the participant workstation, the altered instructional content including the plurality of avatar images to the interface, the plurality of avatar images being displayed in the avatar status display.