Engagement Detection

The use of sensors, computer vision, or other technologies to automatically assess whether a person is actively engaged with a task, device, or activity. Engagement detection systems typically monitor observable behaviours such as gaze direction, touch interaction patterns, facial expressions, and body posture to infer internal states of attention and involvement. In assistive technology for people with cognitive disabilities such as dementia, engagement detection enables adaptive systems to adjust their level of support — for example, increasing prompts when a user appears disengaged or reducing them when the user is actively participating. A key challenge is that observable behaviour may not accurately reflect engagement, particularly in people with neurological conditions whose motor or expressive abilities are affected.