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Natural Language Processing: (NLP)

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a specialized branch of artificial intelligence that enables computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a way that is both meaningful and contextually relevant. By bridging the gap between human communication and machine processing, NLP powers a wide range of applications, from voice assistants to automated translation and intelligent search engines.

At the Academy of Technology (AOT), research in NLP combines linguistic theory, statistical modeling, and machine learning to address challenges in text and speech processing. Faculty and students work on areas such as sentiment analysis, text classification, machine translation, named entity recognition, and question-answering systems. Cutting-edge deep learning models, including transformers like BERT and GPT, are explored for tasks involving contextual language understanding and generation. Applications of AOT’s NLP research span multiple sectors. In business, NLP-driven analytics help organizations understand customer sentiment and improve service quality. In healthcare, NLP is used to process clinical notes, extract critical patient information, and support medical decision-making. Educational applications include automated essay grading and intelligent tutoring systems. Additionally, NLP contributes to information retrieval, enabling users to efficiently access relevant content from vast databases. 

A key research priority at AOT is the development of multilingual and low-resource language models, particularly for Indian languages, to ensure that technological advancements are inclusive and culturally relevant. Efforts also focus on improving model interpretability, robustness against adversarial attacks, and reducing biases in language models. Research is supported by high-performance computing facilities, NLP toolkits, and collaborative projects with technology companies and research institutions. Students gain hands-on experience in building and deploying NLP solutions, equipping them with skills highly sought after in the AI industry. Looking forward, AOT aims to explore conversational AI, multimodal NLP, and cross-lingual transfer learning, driving innovation toward more natural, accessible, and human-like language technologies.

Researchers:

  • Dr. Oendrila Samanta (CSE Department)
  • Mrs. Priyanka Bhattacharya (CSE Department)

Projects:

  • Smoothing of HMM parameters for efficient recognition of online Bangla handwriting
  • Opinion Mining based Predictive model based on Social Media Responses
  • Overcoming the stigma of Alzheimer’s disease by means of Natural Language Processing as well as Blockchain Technologies
  • Investigation on Effective Machine Learning Techniques for Sentiment Analysis

Problem Description: We propose a novel Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based method for limited vocabulary recognition of unconstrained mixed-cursive handwriting. Unlike traditional sub-stroke recognition, entire word samples are treated as basic units. Both circular and linear features are extracted: circular features are modelled using von Mises distributions and linear ones using Gaussian distributions. To handle handwriting variability and delayed strokes, fully connected non-homogeneous HMMs with parameter smoothing are used. Recognition combines natural and reverse order HMM results. Additionally, segmentation via discrete curve evolution and feature modelling using mixture distributions improve performance. Tests on Bangla and Latin handwritten word datasets show promising results.

Focus of Research:

  • We implement a simple but novel approach to smoothing of HMM parameters to avoid possible over-fitting and poor generalization.
  • In the proposed approach, we combine recognition results of two HMMs: one considering the input sample in the natural order and the other considering the sample in the reverse order.
  • Our angular feature was individually modelled by a distinct von Mises distribution as well as von Mises-Fisher distribution.

Publications:

  • O. Samanta, A. Roy, S. K. Parui, and U. Bhattacharya, An hmm framework based on spherical-linear features for online cursive handwriting Recognition,  Information Sciences, vol. 441, 133–151, 2018, ISSN: 0020-0255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2018.02.004.
  • O. Samanta, U. Bhattacharya, and S. K. Parui, Smoothing of HMM parameters for efficient recognition of online handwriting,  Pattern Recog., vol. 47, no. 11, 3614–3629, Nov. 2014, ISSN: 0031-3203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patcog.2014.04.019.
  • O. Samanta, A. Roy, U. Bhattacharya, and S. K. Parui, Script independent online handwriting recognition, 2015 13th International Conference on Document Analysis and Recognition (ICDAR), 2015, pp. 1251–1255. https://10.1109/ICDAR.2015.7333964.

Problem Description: In today’s world, both natural and man-made disasters pose serious threats to societal stability. While predicting such events is critical, understanding public behavior during crises is equally vital. Social media, as a real-time platform for public expression, captures shifts in sentiment and engagement during emergencies. However, there is a notable gap in tools that effectively quantify and forecast the behavioral impact of social media during such events. Moreover, no existing model integrates both sentiment analysis and user engagement to estimate the likelihood of environmental or societal instability, highlighting a critical need for a more comprehensive predictive framework.

Focus of Research:

  • Analyzing Human Behavior: Through Social Media Sentiment: The study examines how positive and negative social media comments reflect human reactions to environmental disruptions, using these sentiments as indicators of behavioral trends during crisis situations.
  • Impact of Social Media Engagement on Environmental Stability: It emphasizes the role of user density on social media within a region, suggesting that areas with higher engagement levels are more prone to instability during environmental or societal disturbances.
  • Integrating Human Behavior with Sustainable Environmental Contexts: The work explores how human actions and values are shaped by their environment, advocating for a balance between meeting human needs and preserving the ecological and cultural context that nurtures responsible behavior.

Publications:

  • Bhattacharya, P., & Guha, S. K., Opinion Mining-Based Predictive Model Based on Social Media Responses, International Conference on Human-Centric Smart Computing (pp. 25-36). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7711-6_3

Problem Description: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a severe neurodegenerative disorder, affects millions globally and is surrounded by social stigma that hinders early diagnosis and treatment. Patients often face discrimination and internalized fear, causing them to avoid medical help. The stigma is intensified by misinformation and negative sentiments, especially on social media. Simultaneously, healthcare data systems lack adequate privacy safeguards, leading to concerns about data misuse. This research explores the integration of Natural Language Processing (NLP) for sentiment analysis and Blockchain technology for secure data handling, aiming to reduce societal stigma and improve diagnosis, privacy, and quality of life for AD patients.

Focus of Research:

  • Sentiment Analysis using NLP to Address Stigma: The research leverages Natural Language Processing techniques, particularly sentiment analysis, to identify and quantify public stigma and misinformation regarding Alzheimer’s disease through social media content and public discourse.
  • AI Chatbots for Social Support and Engagement: It proposes the use of AI-driven virtual assistants or chatbots integrated with NLP to reduce social isolation among Alzheimer’s patients, improve engagement, and combat internalized stigma.
  • Blockchain for Secure Medical Data Management: The work emphasizes the application of blockchain technology to ensure privacy, integrity, and secure sharing of Electronic Health Records (EHR), mitigating fears related to data misuse and discrimination.

Publications:

  • Banerjee, K., Bhattacharya, P., Roy, S., & Bose, R., Overcoming the stigma of Alzheimer’s disease by means of Natural Language Processing as well as Blockchain Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394277599.ch8

Problem Description: With the explosive growth of user engagement on OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms, understanding audience sentiment through user reviews has become crucial for improving content delivery and user experience. This research investigates which machine learning algorithms perform best for sentiment analysis of reviews from major OTT apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and Sony Liv. By collecting data using the Google Play Scraper API and applying models like Naive Bayes, SVM, Logistic Regression, and Decision Trees, the study aims to identify the most effective algorithm for accurate sentiment classification across diverse user feedback in the OTT domain.

Focus of Research:

  • Comparative Analysis of ML Algorithms: The study evaluates and compares the performance of four machine learning algorithms (Naive Bayes, SVM, Logistic Regression, and Decision Tree) on user review data from four popular OTT platforms.
  • OTT-Centric Sentiment Insights: It focuses on extracting and analyzing sentiment from Google Play reviews of OTT apps (Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, Sony Liv, Amazon Prime Video), identifying user perceptions on content, pricing, usability, and satisfaction.
  • Performance Evaluation and Optimization: The research assesses each model using metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC curves to determine the most effective algorithm for sentiment classification in OTT-related user reviews.

Publications:

  • Majumdar, A., Chakraborty, J., Saha, S., Panja, S., & Bhattacharya, P., Investigation on Effective Machine Learning Techniques for Sentiment Analysis,  2024 4th International Conference on Computer, Communication, Control & Information Technology (C3IT) (pp.1-8), September 2024. https:// 10.1109/C3IT60531.2024.10829457

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