Emli-Mari Nel

Photo of Emli-Mari

Contact me: en256@cam.ac.uk

About Me

I am a postdoc at David MacKay's Inference Group at the University of Cambridge (2009-2012). I was a PhD student at the Digital Signal Processing Group at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa (2002-2005). My undergraduate degree was in Electronic Engineering (1998-2001). After receiving my PhD, I moved to Oxford, where I worked at Oxford Metrics Group as a researcher and algorithms engineer in the Vicon Research Unit (2006-2009).

My research interests include the application of machine learning algorithms to computer vision problems. My PhD was about the extraction of dynamic information from static signatures (e.g., signatures on cheques) with specific application to signature verification. More information on this project can be found [here]. During my time at Vicon I helped to develop high-level computer vision algorithms and low-level image processing algorithms to extract 3D information from multiple video cameras (without the use of optical markers). My current research focusses on the problem of gaze tracking and the detection of facial gestures to communicate through programs such as Dasher and Nomon. I am specifically working on the Opengazer project, which aims to assist many impaired users, e.g., patients with locked-in syndrome, to communicate.

Publications