Ambient Diagnostics - Ambient Intelligence for Scientific Discovery - page 224

modality to use for mapping the feature space is sometimes called 'modality
intelligence. ' For instance, classic Fourier Transformation algorithms map data
from a time-domain to a frequency-domain. For many periodical data sets, this
is a blessing because it is easier to see the patterns in the frequency domain.
Wu and Siegel developed a sound recognition system that can identify types of
vehicles by sound signatures [11]. The algorithm can also be used for analyzing
the breathing patterns of asthma sufferers.
Third, we need effective feature descriptions. The human brain is mainly
wired using languages, not for pixel computations. How to transform a verbal
description into a digital representation is a non-trivial task. For example, how
do we describe the texture on the human body? How do we sense group activities
in a video from a nursing home?
Ambient Diagnostics can be traced back to ancient times. For over two thou-
sand years, physical inspection has been a unique and important diagnostic
method of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Observing abnormal changes
in the tongue, blood volume pulse patterns, breath smells, gestures, etc., can aid
in diagnosing diseases. TCM diagnosis is a black-box approach that involves only
input and output data around the body. For many years, scientists have been
trying to use modern technologies to unleash the ancient knowledge base. For
example, a recent paper published on an IEEE conference presents a computer-
based arterial blood-volume pulse analyzer. It is a 'rediscovery' of the diagnostic
method originated from ancient TCM [65].
This chapter was inspired by the research of computerized TCM tongue in-
spection. Through this case study, the chapter discusses the components and
potential of ambient diagnostics. We believe that it can be used in applications
such as security intelligence, where the difference is deceiving.
2 Tongue Inspection
Visual inspection of the tongue has been a unique and important diagnostic
method of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. Observ-
ing the abnormal changes in the tongue proper and in the tongue coating can
aid in diagnosing diseases. The inspection of the tongue comprises the inspec-
tion of the tongue body and the coating. The tongue body refers to the tissue
of the muscle and blood vessels, while the coating refers to something on the
tongue like mosses, which are formed, according to the theory of TCM, by the
rising of the 'qi' (energy) of the spleen and stomach. For decades, international
TCM medical professionals have conducted an enormous number of scientific
experiments on tongue inspection [26].
Clinical data has shown significant connections between various viscera can-
cers and abnormalities in the tongue and the tongue coating. Yao from China
studied 4,000 clinical cases with gastroendoscopy images over a period of 20
years. He found significant connections between various viscera cancers and ab-
normalities in the tongue and the tongue coating. Yao found that viscera cancer
patients showed less tongue coating at the tip or edge of the tongue and that