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In this chapter, we review methods for video-based heart monitoring, from classical signal processing approaches to modern deep learning methods. In addition, we propose a new method for learning an optimal filter that can overcome many of the problems that can affect classical approaches, such as light reflection and subject's movements, at a fraction of the training cost of deep learning approaches. Following the usual procedures for region of interest extraction and tracking, robust skin color estimation and signal pre-processing, we introduce a least-squares error optimal filter, learnt using an established training dataset to estimate the photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal more accurately from the measured color changes over time. This method not only improves the accuracy of heart rate measurement but also resulted in the extraction of a cleaner pulse signal, which could be integrated into many other useful applications such as human biometric recognition or recognition of emotional state. The method was tested on the DEAP dataset and showed improved performance over the best previous classical method on that dataset. The results obtained show that our proposed contact-free heart rate measurement method has significantly improved on existing methods.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a crucial role in creating and implementing support applications for visual impaired users. For instance, most of them face a lot of challenges in carrying out educational activities and collaborating with another sighted individual. Visual impairment entails a lack of confidence and acceptance to be integrated in a collaborative group. The proposed research provides an innovative solution, based on Artificial Intelligence techniques, like a rule-based framework to perform efficient collaborative activities, along with awareness features to notify each other. Furthermore, our application enables speech communication. The developed system is evaluated with experiments through collaborative writing activities performed by blind users. The obtained results are promising because users showed curiosity, being concentrated on constructive tasks, and to have great confidence in them.

The continuous increase in population and its demand for water and energy have caused great stress on the world’s water and energy resources. Consequently, it has become necessary to replace the conventional sources of energy with renewable energy and conventional methods of irrigation with high-efficiency irrigation systems to ensure global energy, food, and environmental security. In this context, a research-based study combining drip irrigation and photovoltaic system was conducted. A solar-powered drip irrigation system was designed, developed, and analyzed techno-economically for citrus, olive, and grapes. The performance evaluation has shown enormous results with water saving and fertilizer reduction of more than 50% and 40%, respectively, as compared to conventional irrigation system. Further, the system is found cost-effective over the years and requires minimal operational and maintenance cost. This paper may provide technical guidance for design and installation of solar-powered drip irrigation system.

Today, even in the presence of IT applications built for the blind, they are facing many problems. Either the applications are for individual’s use or if offer collaborative writing, they are not up to the mark. In the collaborative writing, for instance, in Microsoft Word Add-In and the Google Docs UI, the authors do not know about changes made in the document. Though the former facilitates this feature through adding comments in the document, but the dynamic actions, e.g. notifications (the user sign-in, editing the document, closing it) and communication option is yet to be considered. We describe a web application for the blind community to work on a shared document from different locations. Users are able to write, read, edit, and update the collaborative document in a controlled way. We aim to enhance the self-reliance among users and improve performance.