Emmanuel Munguia Tapia

Research Short Bio Projects Publications Courses Resume CV Contact Me

Research interests

Machine learning, data mining, pattern recognition, context awareness, pervasive, ubiquitous, and wearable computing, human activity recognition, personalization, ubiquitous healthcare, distributed and real-time systems, extensible software architectures, and novel sensor hardware.

Short biography

Dr. Emmanuel Munguia Tapia directs the Context Awareness project at the advanced software platforms laboratory in Samsung Research America - Silicon Valley, San Jose, California. His group of 15 researchers and 4 software engineers focuses on developing algorithms to infer human context, activity, interest, and patterns of behavior from sensor, social, interaction and location data collected by mobile devices applying machine learning and data mining techniques. Dr. Munguia Tapia previously worked for Nokia Research, Oracle America, Mitsubishi Electric Research, and Intel Research. He received his PhD and MS degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) working on context awareness, ubiquitous and wearable computing and his BS degree (with honors) is from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico. He was named one of the best graduating engineers by the Mexican National Association of Schools of Engineering (ANFEI) and received the "Presea Lazaro Cardenas" award, one of the highest recognitions to academic excellence given by the President of Mexico.

Selected projects

The research and development work by Dr. Emmanuel Munguia Tapia for Samsung Research America is confidential, so it cannot be publicly disclosed. However, in the below sections you can find information about previous selected research projects by Dr. Munguia Tapia.

	The PlaceLab Living Laboratory. I designed the sensing infrastructure and most of the software infrastructure for this observational research facility. [PDF]  [Slides]  [ Project page]
	MITes: MIT Wireless Environmental Sensors.  I designed this wireless sensing platform to facilitate data collection in everyday environments. [PDF]  [Slides]  [project page1]  [project page2]
	Scalable Activity Recognition for Sensor Networks. I designed a wireless sensor network of 500 PIR motion sensors and developed scalable and hierarchical algorithms to infer human behavior in buildings. [PDF]  [Slides]
	Activity Recognition from RFID tagged Objects. I Developed algorithms based on dynamic Bayesian networks, statistical shrinkage and mined ontologies to infer human activities based on the interaction of people with RFID tagged objects [PDF]  [Slides]
	Activity Recognition in the Home Setting using Simple and Ubiquitous Sensors. I developed this system to recognize human activities from simple sensors. [PDF]  [Slides] [Project page]
	Activity Recognition from Accelerometer Data for Videogame Applications. A fun way to fight obesity! [Slides]  [Project page]
	People Tracker Using Multiple Cameras [Project page]
	Multiple-camera tracking system with easy calibration. [Project page]
	Towards User Friendly Common-Sense Activity Recognition. [Abstract]

Other  projects (Full projects list)

Selected publications  (Full CV)

S. S. Intille, F. Albinali, S. Mota, E. Munguia Tapia, and W. L. Haskell, "Using Mobile Phones and Sensors to Identify Physical Activity Type in Real Time " in Abstract presented at the 137th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 2009.

M. E. Rosenberger, G. Skrinar, W. L. Haskell, S. S. Intille, and E. Munguia Tapia, "Multiple Wireless Accelerometers and Heart Rate Accurately Predict Energy Expenditure during Level Walking," Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 40, 5, pp. S62-S63 2008

E. Munguia Tapia. "Using Machine Learning for Real-time Activity Recognition and Estimation of Energy Expenditure". Ph.D. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008.
[PDF] [Slides]

J. Beaudin, S.S. Intille, E. Munguia Tapia, R. Rockinson and M. Morris, Context-Sensitive Microlearning of Foreign Language Vocabulary on a Mobile Device, in Proceedings of the European Conference on Ambient Intelligence (AmI '07). 2007: Darmstadt, Germany. To appear.
[Abstract] [PDF]

E. Munguia Tapia, S.S. Intille, and K. Larson, Portable Wireless Sensors for Object Usage Sensing in the Home: Challenges and Practicalities, in Proceedings of the European Conference on Ambient Intelligence (AmI '07). 2007: Darmstadt, Germany. To appear.
[Abstract] [PDF]

E. Munguia Tapia, S. Intille, and K. Larson, Real-Time Recognition of Physical Activities and Their Intensities Using Wireless Accelerometers and a Heart Rate Monitor, in Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Wearable Computers (ISWC '07). 2007: Boston, MA .
[Abstract] [PDF]

B. Logan, J. Healey, M. Philipose, E. Munguia Tapia, and S. Intille, A Long-Term Evaluation of Sensing Modalities for Activity Recognition, in Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing (UBICOMP '07). 2007: Innsbruck, Austria. p. To appear.
[Abstract] [PDF]

C. R. Wren and E. Munguia-Tapia, "Toward Scalable Activity Recognition for Sensor Networks," in Proceedings of The Second International Workshop in Location and Context-Awareness (LoCA '06), vol. 3987 / 2006, M. Hazas, J. Krumm, and T. Strang, Eds. Dublin, Ireland: Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, 2006, pp. 168-185. Winner of a best presentation award.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Slides]

E. Munguia Tapia, T. Choudhury, and M. Philipose, "Building Reliable Activity Models Using Hierarchical Shrinkage and Mined Ontology," in Proceedings of PERVASIVE 2006, B. Heidelberg, Ed. Dublin, Ireland: Springer-Verlag, 2006.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Slides]

E. Munguia Tapia, S.S. Intille, L. Lopez, and K. Larson, "The Design of a Portable Kit of Wireless Sensors for Naturalistic Data Collection" in Proceedings of PERVASIVE 2006. B. Heidelberg, Ed. Dublin, Ireland: Springer-Verlag, 2006.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Slides] [Project Page1] [Project Page2]

S. S. Intille, K. Larson, E. Munguia Tapia, J.S. Beaudin, P. Kaushik, J. Nawyn, and R. Rockinson, "Using a Live-in Laboratory for Ubiquitous Computing Research" in Proceedings of PERVASIVE 2006. B. Heidelberg, Ed. Dublin, Ireland: Springer-Verlag, 2006.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Slides] [Project Page]

E. Munguia Tapia, S. S. Intille, K. Larson, R. Rockinson, and J. Beaudin, "Tools for Ubiquitous Computing Research," in Proceedings of the International Symposium for the Realization of Ubiquitous - City. Seoul, Korea, 2006.
[Abstract] [Speech] [Slides]

S. S. Intille, K. Larson, J. Beaudin, E. Munguia Tapia, P. Kaushik, J. Nawyn, and T.J. McLeish, "The PlaceLab: a live-in laboratory for pervasive computing research (Video)," in Proceedings of Pervasive 2005 Video Program, May, 2005.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Video (334 MB DIVX AVI)] [Project Page]

A. Feldman, E. Munguia Tapia, S. Sadi, P. Maes, and C. Schmandt, "ReachMedia: On-the-move Interaction with Everyday Objects," in proceedings of The Ninth Annual IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC '05). Osaka, Japan, 2005. Best paper nominee at ISWC ?05.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Slides]

S. S. Intille, K. Larson, J. S. Beaudin, J. Nawyn, E. Munguia Tapia, and P. Kaushik, "A living laboratory for the design and evaluation of ubiquitous computing interfaces," in Extended Abstracts of the 2005 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New York, NY: ACM Press, 2005, pp. 1941 - 1944.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Project Page]

E. Munguia Tapia, N. Marmasse, S. S. Intille, and K. Larson, "MITes: Wireless portable sensors for studying behavior," in Proceedings of Extended Abstracts UbiComp 2004: Ubiquitous Computing, 2004.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Slides] [Project Page]

E. Munguia Tapia, S. S. Intille, and K. Larson, "Activity Recognition in the Home Setting Using Simple and Ubiquitous Sensors," in Proceedings of PERVASIVE 2004, vol. LNCS 3001, A. Ferscha and F. Mattern, Eds. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2004, pp. 158-175.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Slides] [Project Page]

J. Beaudin, S. Intille, and E. Munguia Tapia. "Lessons Learned Using Ubiquitous Sensors for Data Collection in Real Homes". Extended Abstracts of the 2004 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New York, NY: ACM Press, 2004, pp. 1359-1362.
[Abstract] [PDF]

S.S. Intille, E. Munguia Tapia, and L. Bao, "Real-time Physical Activity Recognition Using Multiple Wireless Accelerometers." Abstract presented at the Scientific Meeting on Objective Monitoring of Physical Activity: Closing Gaps in the Science of Accelerometry, University of North Carolina, December, 2004. Winner of a best poster award.  Abstract to appear in the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise Journal.
[Slides]

S.S. Intille, E. Munguia Tapia J. Rondoni, J. Beaudin, C. Kukla, S. Agarwal, and L. Bao, "Tools for Studying Behavior and Technology in Natural Settings," in Proceedings of UBICOMP 2003: Ubiquitous Computing, vol. LNCS 2864, A.K. Dey, A. Schmidt, and J.F.
[Abstract] [PDF]

S. S. Intille, L. Bao, E. Munguia Tapia, and J. Rondoni, "Acquiring in Situ Training Data for Context-Aware Ubiquitous Computing Applications," in Proceedings of CHI 2004 Connect: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New York, NY: ACM Press, 2004, pp. 1-9.
[Abstract] [PDF]

E. Munguia Tapia, S.S. Intille, J. Rebula, S. Stoddard, " Ubiquitous Video Communication with the Perception of Eye Contact," in Proceedings of UBICOMP 2003 Video Program.
[Abstract] [PDF] [Video (MPEG v.1 AVI)] [Project Page]

E. Munguia Tapia. "Activity Recognition in the Home Setting Using Simple and Ubiquitous Sensors". S.M. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003.
[Abstract] [PDF]

M. Hlubinka, J. Beaudin, E. Munguia Tapia, J. S. An, AltarNation: Interface Design for Meditative Communities, CHI '02 extended abstracts on Human factors in computer systems, April 20-25, 2002, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 
[Abstract] [PDF] [Project page] [AltarNation page]

Education

PhD in Media Arts and Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology , (MIT), 2008
Areas of specialization: Machine learning, data mining, pattern recognition, context awareness, pervasive, ubiquitous, and wearable computing, and advanced computer algorithms.

SM Media Arts and Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2003
Emphasis: Pattern recognition, machine learning, artificial intelligence and computer vision. Research: Computer algorithms for automatic human activity recognition from sensor data.

BS in Electrical Engineering - Communications and Electronics Engineering
National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), 2000
Emphasis: Microcontrollers and computer design, sensor design, digital and analog electronic design, electronic instrumentation, control systems, telecommunications, and software engineering.

Engineering Leadership Professional Program
University of California Berkeley, 2013

Associate of Science degree in Electronic Design
CBTIS 37 Technical School, 1995

Associate of Science degree in Programming Languages and Computer Networks
ECCO Technical School , 1995

Affiliations

Samsung Research America
2012- present

University of California Berkeley
2013- 2013

Nokia Research Center
2011- 2012

Oracle America
2008- 2011

The MIT Media Laboratory
2001- 2008

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories
2005

Intel Research Seattle
2004

Instituto Politecnico Nacional (ESIME - IPN)
1995-2000

Centro de Bachillerato Tecnologico Industrial y de Servicios 37 (CBTIS 37)
1992-1995

Service and professional involvement

Reviewer for the following refereed conferences:

International Conference on Pervasive Computing (PERVASIVE)

International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing (UBICOMP)

International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC)

International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI)

International Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST)

International Conference on Intelligent System Design and Applications (ISDA)

European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Data Bases (ECML PKDD)

Reviewer for the following international refereed journals:

IEEE Pervasive Computing

Pervasive and Mobile Computing

IEEE Computer (Computer)

IEEE Transactions on Multimedia (TMM)

IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics - Part B (TSMC-B)

Work Authorization

United States permanent resident authorized to work with no restrictions 

Languages

English

Spanish (native speaker)

Contact Information

Email: emunguia[at]alum.mit.edu ; e.tapia[at]samsung.com

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"Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness." 

-Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Last modified: 06/15/2013