Twinning News


Latest developments at CyCAT, including research findings and administrative changes.
Sometimes we also include external world news in our topic.



Fairness in Algorithmic and Crowd-Generated Descriptions of People Images


Dr. Jahna Otterbacher is invited to give a keynote talk at FAT/MM: Fairness Accountability and Transparency in Multimedia on 25th October. The abstract for the talk: Image analysis algorithms have become indispensable in the modern information ecosystem. Beyond their early use in restricted domains (e.g., military, medical), they are now widely used in consumer applications and social media. With the rise of the Algorithm Economy, image analysis algorithms are increasingly being commercialized as Cognitive Services. This practice is proving to be a boon to the development of applications where user modeling, personalization, and adaptation are required. From e-stores,... Read More



Dr. Styliani Kleanthous, CyCAT gave a talk at the Information School, University of Sheffield


The abstract for the talk: Image analysis algorithms have become indispensable in the modern information ecosystem. Beyond their early use in restricted domains (e.g., military, medical), they are now widely used in consumer applications and social media enabling functionality that users take for granted. Recently image analysis algorithms, have become widely available as Cognitive Services. This practice is proving to be a boon to the development of applications where user modeling, personalization, and adaptation are required. But while tagging APIs offer developers an inexpensive and convenient means to add functionality to their creations, most are opaque and proprietary and there are... Read More


Dr. Styliani Kleanthous gave a talk at the BHCC 2019 First symposium on Biases in Human Computation and Crowdsourcing


Dr. Styliani Kleanthous from Cyprus Center for algorithmic transparency presented, Fairness in Algorithmic and Crowd-Generated Descriptions of People Images at the First symposium on Biases in Human Computation and Crowdsourcing. The abstract for the talk: Crowdsourcing plays a key role in developing algorithms for image recognition or captioning. Image analysis algorithms have become indispensable in the modern information ecosystem. Beyond their early use in restricted domains (e.g., military, medical), they are now widely used in consumer applications and social media, with the consumers taking the output of these applications for granted.With the rise of the “Algorithm... Read More


BHCC 2019 First symposium on Biases in Human Computation and Crowdsourcing


Dr. Styliani Kleanthous from Cyprus Center for algorithmic transparency is presenting, Fairness in Algorithmic and Crowd-Generated Descriptions of People Images at the First symposium on Biases in Human Computation and Crowdsourcing that take place at 21st - 22nd of October 2019. Human Computation and Crowdsourcing have become ubiquitous in the world of algorithm augmentation and data management. However, humans have various cognitive biases that influence the way they make decisions, remember information, and interact with machines. It is thus important to identify human biases and analyze their effect on complex hybrid systems. On the other hand, the potential interaction with a large... Read More


Dr. Jahna Otterbacher coordinates a new research project entitled “DESCANT – DEtecting Stereotypes in human ComputAtioN Tasks”


The DESCANT project, which is led by RISE, secured funding in the framework of the “Excellence Hubs” action of the "RESTART 2016-2020" (Research, Technological Development and Innovation) Programme, financed by Cypriot Research Promotion Foundation. The project will be implemented, under the scientific coordination of OUC’s Assistant Professor Jahna Otterbacher. Dr. Otterbacher also coordinates the Cyprus Center for Algorithmic Transparency (CyCAT), which operates at the Open University of Cyprus with Horizon2020 funding, and leads the Transparency in Algorithms Group (TAG) of the Research Centre of Excellence in Cyprus focusing on Interactive media, Smart systems and Emerging... Read More


Job Opening: Associate Research Position


The Open University of Cyprus accepts applications for the fulfilment of one (1) Research Associate position with full‐time employment over two years, in the context of the H2020 project “CyCAT: Cyprus Center for Algorithmic Transparency.” The project is funded by the program H2020 – Widespread – Twinning. The project aims at developing interventions that support the needs of users, raising their awareness of algorithmic biases (i.e., social biases that are observed in algorithmic systems and tools used regularly by the public for information access, such as search engines and social media platforms). The interventions to be developed include both digital tools and... Read More


CyCAT Graduate Algorithmic Transparency Seminar


🏁 The CyCAT Graduate Algorithmic Transparency Seminar at the Department of Information Systems of אוניברסיטת חיפה - University Of Haifa has been successfully completed with the diligent contribution of: ➡️ Cyprus Center for Algorithmic Transparency Coordinator jahna otterbacher & Senior Researcher Styliani Kleanthous from Open University of Cyprus - Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου and Researchers Pınar Barlas & Kyriakos Kyriakou from RISE.  🙏 CyCAT would like to thank all scholars, researchers, students and also extend its gratitude... Read More


Round Table Discussion on the topic of Ethical, Transparent, Unbiased Algorithmic Design & Development


Cyprus Center for Algorithmic Transparency (CyCAT) and the Transparency in Algorithms Group (TAG) within RISE and in light of the new regulations on GDPR in Europe, co-organized this event on important issues on ethical and transparent information systems. During this round-table discussion industry professionals behind these information systems, experts from CyCAT, Jahna Otterbacher, Michael Loizos of Open University of Cyprus - Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου and Tsvi Kuflik and Alan Hartman from אוניברסיטת חיפה - University Of Haifa presented the possibilities for collaboration and suggestions on dealing with Ethical, Transparent, Unbiased Algorithmic... Read More


Meeting on “Untangling Concepts and Definitions Surrounding Algorithmic Bias and Transparency”


💻CyCAT meeting on "Untangling Concepts and Definitions Surrounding Algorithmic Bias and Transparency" at Trento, Italy (5-7/2/2019). ➡️Consortium members Jahna Otterbacher and Styliani Kleanthous from Open University of Cyprus - Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου, Tsvi Kuflikand Alan Hartman from University of Haifa participated at the meeting hosted by Fausto Giunchiglia at Università di Trento.  #CyCAT #Algorithmic #Transparency #Bias #OUC #UEDIN #USFD #ΑΠΚΥ


Untangling Concepts and Definitions Surrounding Algorithmic Bias and Transparency


💻CyCAT meeting on "Untangling Concepts and Definitions Surrounding Algorithmic Bias and Transparency" at Trento, Italy (5-7/2/2019). ➡️Consortium members Jahna Otterbacher and Styliani Kleanthous from Open University of Cyprus - Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου, Tsvi Kuflikand Alan Hartman from University of Haifa participated at the meeting hosted by Fausto Giunchiglia at Università di Trento.  #CyCAT #Algorithmic #Transparency #Bias #OUC #UEDIN #USFD #ΑΠΚΥ