9am - 4pm

Thursday 30 March 2023

Work inspiration trip - CVSSP and Sensus Futuris

CVSSP's Audio Visual Lab
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7XH

This event has passed

Speakers

Prof Josef Kittler

Overview

On the 30 March 2023, the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) had the pleasure of welcoming two extraordinary schools that cater to neurodiverse children: Pond Meadow School and Freemantles School.

This special occasion was made possible through the thoughtful coordination of the Lightyear Foundation, a registered charity with the number 1150231. The Lightyear Foundation, for those unfamiliar, has a commendable Work Inspiration Trip programme, which brings remarkable educational experiences to these young minds.

The day was marked by curiosity, enthusiasm, and a palpable sense of wonder. It was a true celebration of diversity and inclusion, as these eager learners embarked on a journey of exploration and inspiration.

Under the caring guidance of CVSSP's dedicated team, these exceptional students had the unique opportunity to delve into the fascinating worlds of vision, speech, and signal processing. Through engaging demonstrations, hands-on experiences, and interactive sessions, they discovered the marvels of technology and the boundless potential that awaits those who dare to dream.

The visit was not only an educational excursion but also a testament to the power of collaboration. CVSSP, Pond Meadow School, Freemantles School, and the Lightyear Foundation came together to create a memorable day that will leave a lasting impact on the lives of these young individuals.

This heartwarming event serves as a reminder of the transformative power of education, the importance of supporting neurodiverse children, and the potential that lies within each of them. We look forward to more such extraordinary gatherings that ignite a passion for learning and foster a sense of belonging.

Professor Kittler, who organised the visit said:

"Hosting children from the Freemantles and Pond Meadow schools to tell them about the career opportunities at the University of Surrey, and its spinout company Sensus Futuris, was an amazing experience. The visit was organised by the Charity Laightyear Foundation as part of their Work Inspiration Trips programme.

The children were infectiously excited about our work in Artificial Intelligence and keenly participated in the demos of different AI systems. The abilities of some of the pupils in matching face images and estimating age were exceptional. One of them scored 100% correct in a standard face matching test! We could see a role for them in our research, and in other companies that employ people with such talents. This was the most rewarding outreach activity for us for quite some time."

The children were warmly welcomed to the world of CVSSP and the remarkable University spinout, Sensus Futuris. During this introduction, they gained insights into the respective missions of these organizations and the diverse range of job roles they encompass.

Following this engaging introduction, an interactive hands-on demonstration session unfolded. Here, the children had the thrilling opportunity to interact with cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence technologies, co-engineered by Sensus Futuris in collaboration with CVSSP. The activities included:

Age Estimation from a Photo: The children witnessed how AI could accurately estimate a person's age just by examining their photograph.
Face Matching: They explored the fascinating world of facial recognition technology, understanding how AI could identify and match faces.
Appearance-Based Person Search in Video: Through a captivating demonstration, they discovered how AI could perform a 'person search' in video footage based on physical appearances.
"Find a Celebrity Looking Like Me": In a truly entertaining exercise, the children's own face photos were compared to a staggering database of seven thousand celebrities to find the closest visual match, uncovering amusing lookalike connections.

This hands-on session not only kindled their curiosity but also showcased the incredible capabilities of AI in a fun and accessible manner. It was a delightful journey into the future of technology, revealing the endless possibilities and exciting career paths that lie ahead.