Emmanuel Munguia Tapia

Research Short Bio Projects Publications Courses Resume CV Contact Me

Research interests

Software design, machine learning, pattern recognition, data mining, pervasive and ubiquitous computing, context-aware environments, activity detection and recognition, novel sensor hardware, wearable computers, ubiquitous healthcare, distributed systems and databases.

Short biography

Dr. Emmanuel Munguia Tapia presently works at the Nokia Research Center in Palo Alto, CA. His research is focused on developing algorithms to infer user activity, location and context using data mining, machine learning, and pattern classification from search history, spatio-temporal, social, and sensor data collected by smart phones. He uses this inferred contextual information to improve algorithms for personalized search, recommendation and behavioral modeling and implements scalable prototypes to demonstrate the advantages of this research for new services and applications for millions of users. Previously, Dr. Munguia Tapia worked at Oracle America, the largest enterprise software company in the world, were he performed research and development for the discrete manufacturing applications group applying state-of-the-art advanced computer algorithms to facilitate the processing, storage, management, and visualization of information in the domains of discrete manufacturing and telecommunication industries. Dr. Munguia Tapia also been a researcher at the MIT Media Laboratory were his research effort was on developing algorithms that infer human activities and context from sensors placed ubiquitously in the environment and worn on the body. Dr. Munguia Tapia was also a researcher at the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories and Intel Research where he developed computer systems to infer human activity from motion sensors and radio frequency identification tags. Dr. Munguia Tapia received his PhD and MS degrees from MIT and his BS degree (with honors) in Communications and Electronics Engineering (Electrical Engineering) from the E.S.I.M.E at the Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico. Shortly after obtaining his BS degree, Dr. Munguia Tapia was named one of the best graduating engineers by the Mexican National Association of Schools of Engineering (ANFEI). He also 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 the Nokia Research Center is confidential, so it cannot be publicly disclosed in this web site. 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

Ph.D. in Media Arts and Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (M.I.T), 2008
Areas of specialization: Software design, advanced computer algorithms, machine learning, pattern recognition, pervasive computing, ubiquitous computing, wearable computing, and context-aware environments.

S.M. Media Arts and Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T), 2003
Emphasis: Pattern recognition, machine learning, and artificial intelligence computer algorithms. Research: Computer algorithms for human activity recognition from sensor data.

B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Communications and Electronics Engineering)
National Polytechnic Institute (I.P.N), 2000
Emphasis: programming languages, microcontrollers and microprocessors, sensors design, digital and analog electronic design, electronic instrumentation, control systems and telecommunications.

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

Nokia Research Center
2011- present

Oracle America
2008- present

The MIT Media Laboratory
2001- 2008

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories
2005

Intel Research Seattle
2004

Instituto Politecnico Nacional (Mexico)
1995-2000

Centro de Bachillerato Tecnologico Industrial y de Servicios 37 (Mexico)
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 Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST)

International Conference on Intelligent System Design and Applications (ISDA)

Reviewer for the following international refereed journals:

IEEE Transactions on Multimedia (TMM)

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

Work Authorization

United States Permanent Resident (authorized to work without limitations in the United States)

Languages

English, Spanish native speaker.

Contact Information

Email: emunguia[at]alum.mit.edu ; emmanuel.munguia-tapia[at]nokia.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: 11/18/2011