Dr. João Rodrigues on Leading an Open Access Journal

Professor Rodrigues: Being Editor-in-Chief is motivated by the desire to support a cutting-edge platform (journal) that combines the most recent findings and developments in affective computing, social robotics, and human-machine interfaces. The goal is to enhance moral ideals, ethical standards, and responsible technology use to guarantee that technological advancements in this area benefit humanity. This journal is a crucial resource for anybody interested in the nexus between emotion and technology because of the conceptual synergy between computer scientists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers.

Professor Rodrigues: The key features of the Journal of Affective Computing and Human Interfaces (JACHI) are its interdisciplinary approach to affective computing and human-machine interfaces, its emphasis on Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, and its stringent peer-review procedure. To publish and discuss high-quality research on subjects such as emotion recognition, sociable robotics, human-computer communication, and other related areas, JACHI offers a singular forum for academicians, practitioners, and researchers. Furthermore, JACHI is freely accessible via open access globally, making the research available to anyone. JACHI stands out from other journals due to these characteristics, which make it a useful tool for those researching the relationship between AI and emotional responses in humans.

Professor Rodrigues: Leading an open access journal where all newly published content is freely available worldwide is an important responsibility. It means ensuring that high-quality research is accessible to all, regardless of their financial or institutional constraints. Open access publishing also enables wider dissemination of research, increasing its impact and reach. As an editor, it requires balancing the financial sustainability of the journal with the goal of making research widely available. It also requires ensuring that the peer-review process is rigorous to maintain the quality of published content. In summary, leading an open access journal involves a commitment to making research accessible, transparent, and impactful for the benefit of the scientific community and society at large.

Professor Rodrigues: The open access research within JACHI will benefit a wide range of individuals, groups and corporations, including researchers, academics, practitioners, students, policymakers, and, of course, the general public. Researchers and academics will benefit from having access to the latest research in affective computing and human-machine interfaces, enabling them to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. Corporations and practitioners will benefit from the ability to apply this research to develop new technologies and products that can improve people's lives. Students will benefit from having access to high-quality research, helping them to learn and develop their ideas. Policymakers will benefit from understanding the potential impacts of these technologies on society and developing policies that support responsible development and use. Finally, the general public will benefit from increased awareness and understanding of these technologies, which can ultimately lead to better and more inclusive technologies.

Professor Rodrigues: The future of open access research looks bright as more institutions and funding organizations around the world implement policies to support open access publishing. This pattern is anticipated to continue, with more academic institutions and researchers adopting the open access model to boost the impact and visibility of their research. It is projected that open access publication will continue to play a significant role in the diffusion and impact of research as it becomes more widely accepted. The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought attention to the value of open access research in facilitating the quick and extensive sharing of scientific information, which will probably encourage more researchers to choose this publishing approach in the future.

Professor Rodrigues: JACHI welcomes research articles on a wide range of topics related to affective computing, human-machine interfaces, and related areas. Affective computing applied to adaptative user interfaces, socially assistive robotics, multimodal interaction and communication, human-centered artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality for emotional experiences, and well-being applications are just a few of the cutting-edge and specialized research areas that JACHI is looking for. There are several future directions for research in JACHI that could contribute to the advancement of the field of affective computing and human-machine interfaces. One direction could be the development of more sophisticated emotion recognition and analysis techniques that take into account individual differences and cultures as well as the analysis and the use of the human 5 senses in emotional expression and perception. Another direction could be the integration of affective computing with other emerging technologies such as wearable devices, virtual assistants, and autonomous vehicles. Additionally, research on the ethical and social implications of affective computing and human-machine interfaces could shed light on how to design systems that are both effective and responsible. Finally, the development of more inclusive and accessible affective technologies could lead to a more diverse and equitable use of these technologies in various domains, including healthcare, education, and entertainment.

Professor Rodrigues: My advice to researchers seeking to publish academic research in JACHI would be to ensure that their work aligns with the journal's scope and mission, which is to advance knowledge and methods necessary to recognize, interpret, process, and simulate human feelings, sentiments and emotions, and to link them with human major senses. They should also strive to make their research innovative, rigorous, and impactful, with clear contributions to the field of affective computing and human interfaces. In addition, they should carefully follow the submission guidelines and ensure that their work undergoes thorough review and revision before submission to increase the chances of acceptance.

Professor Rodrigues: The freely available JACHI content can be used by researchers in a variety of ways. First, they can keep abreast of new publications by frequently checking the journal's website for new content on affective computing and human-machine interfaces. Additionally, they can cite pertinent studies and expand on previously known information by using the articles as references for their research. Thirdly, by reading articles written by subject-matter experts and learning about cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, researchers can use the journal as a tool for their professional development. Finally, academic libraries can profit from the JACHI open access model by giving their clients free access to top-notch research.

Please visit the Call for Papers page for all IGI Global journals seeking submissions. Published under Gold Open Access, these journals offer research that is freely accessible to all members of the research community. Please utilize these resources by browsing all Open Access Articles and Chapters.