Wednesday, April 14, at 14h

Invited Speaker: Haytham Hijazi (PhD student and Researcher of CISUC, UC)

Zoom:  https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/81706061067?pwd=aDFiS1JHSGtnb3N0d2J2MHlVNWY2QT09

Title: Machine Learning in Software Engineering - Example: Code Comprehension assessment using biometrics

Abstract: Recent advances in Machine Learning stimulated the integration of Artificial Intelligence capabilities into the Software Engineering areas such as fault prediction and code comprehension classification. Comprehending software code is not an easy task. Having trouble in code comprehension can dramatically affect the quality of the delivered software. From a programmer's side, difficulties in code comprehension would induce variations in the cognitive load. The changes in cognitive load can be characterized by the modulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), such as the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) or the pupil diameter change. These changes (i.e., measures) can be captured by widely available non-intrusive biosensors (e.g., Electrocardiogram) in real-time. Our goal is to investigate to what extent these measures can detect, in fine Spatio-temporal resolution, the code comprehension difficulties. Thus, in our experiment, programmers were non-intrusively equipped with ECG and eye-tracker while performing code comprehension tasks. Due to the non-specificity of such measures to cognitive load assessment, the use of Artificial Intelligence became necessary to detect specific patterns in the ANS signals (e.g., peaks) and classify code regions based on the comprehension level.  In this talk, we explore the main findings of the study, exploring different features and examining various machine learning classification and validation techniques.

Short Bio: A full-time Ph.D. researcher, Centre of Informatics and Systems, University of Coimbra (CISUC), Coimbra, Portugal,Haytham Hijazi received the B.Eng. degree in computer systems engineering with an excellent grade, and the M.Sc. degree in Information Technology from the University of Stuttgart, Germany in 2012.
From 2012 to 2019, he worked with Palestine Ahliya University, Bethlehem, as a Lecturer, researcher, Data Centre Director, and Quality Assurance Manager. He received the DAAD scholarship. Since 2019, he has been a Ph.D. Research Fellow with the Center for Informatics and Systems, University of Coimbra (CISUC), Portugal. He participated in many national and international projects, such as NETKITE, WeDetect, and BASE. His research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, signal processing, and health informatics. His current thesis work is focused on biofeedback intelligent systems for augmenting content comprehension.
Hijazi has a wide managerial skill including project management, quality assurance, and curriculum development.