Francisco José Vico Vela

Vico graduated from the University of Málaga with a BA in computer science in 1991 and was the recipient of a doctoral grant, receiving his PhD in 1995. After doing a postdoc in Buffalo, New York, Vico started working as a lecturer in computer science at the University of Malaga in 1996, and then became an assistant professor in 2000 and full professor in 2012.

Vico developed research in computational neuroscience{{cite journal |last1=Veredas |first1=F |last2=Vico |first2=F |last3=Alonso |first3=JM |date=2005 |title=Factors determining the precision of the correlated firing generated by a monosynaptic connection in the cat visual pathway |journal=The Journal of Physiology|volume=567 |issue=3 |pages=1057–1078 |doi=10.1113/jphysiol.2005.092882|pmid=16020458 |pmc=1474214 }}{{cite journal |last1=Seamari |first1=Y |last2=Narvaez |first2=JA |last3=Vico |first3=F |last4=Lobo |first4=D |last5=Sanchez-Vives |first5=MV |date=2007 |title=Robust off- and online separation of intracellularly recorded Up and Down cortical states |journal=PLOS One |volume=2 |issue=9 | pages=e888 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0000888|pmid=17849017 |pmc=1964538 |doi-access=free }}{{cite web |url=http://www.advance.uconn.edu/2000/000404/000404gr.htm |title=Functional circuitry of complex cells in visual cortex |author= |date=4 April 2000 |publisher=University of Connecticut |access-date=28 January 2020}} and computer vision{{cite web |url=https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/89243 |title=Visual Attention for Foveal Machine Vision |author= |website=SBIR·STTR |publisher=SBA |access-date=28 January 2020}} from his doctoral thesis (contributing with models of neuron function) until 2005, where his interests turned to evolutionary computation{{cite journal |last1=Lobo |first1=D |last2=Vico |first2=F |date=2010 |title=Evolutionary development of tensegrity structures |journal=BioSystems |volume=101 |issue=3 | pages=167–176 |doi=10.1016/j.biosystems.2010.06.005|pmid=20619314 |hdl=10630/6744 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Fernandez |first1=JD |last2=Vico |first2=F |date=2011 |title=Automating the search of molecular motor templates by evolutionary methods |journal=BioSystems |volume=106 |issue=2 | pages=82–93 |doi=10.1016/j.biosystems.2011.07.002|pmid=21784125 |hdl=10630/6715 |hdl-access=free }} and artificial life.{{cite journal |last1=Lobo |first1=D |last2=Vico |first2=F |date=2010 |title=Evolution of form and function in a model of differentiated multicellular organisms with gene regulatory networks |journal=BioSystems |volume=102 |issue=2–3 | pages=112–123 |doi=10.1016/j.biosystems.2010.08.003|pmid=20837096 |hdl=10630/6717 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Fernandez |first1=JD |last2=Vico |first2=F |last3=Martin |first3=G |last4=Doursat |first4=R |last5=Vico |first5=F |date=2011 |title=Emergent diversity in an open-ended evolving virtual community |journal=Artificial Life |volume=18 |issue=2 | pages=199–222 |doi=10.1162/artl_a_00059|pmid=22356151 |hdl=10630/6707 |s2cid=7624628 |hdl-access=free }} He has advised or co-advised eight PhD theses, led more than 40 research projects as principal investigator,{{cite web|url=http://www.geb.uma.es/fjv/research-activities|title=Group of Studies in Biomimetics - Vico's Projects as PI|publisher=UMA|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-date=28 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128174146/http://www.geb.uma.es/fjv/research-activities|url-status=dead}} mostly with public funding, and has two patents.{{cite web |url=https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?FT=D&date=20110125&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP&CC=ES&NR=2350551A1&KC=A1&ND=4 |title=System and method for managing traffic |author= |date=25 January 2011 |website=European Patent Office |publisher=Espacenet |access-date=28 January 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=0&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20050301&CC=ES&NR=2224855A1&KC=A1 |title=Olive oil extraction optimization by continuous sampling comprises feed of the sample to a container with a camera detecting water in the oil |author= |date=1 March 2005 |website=European Patent Office |publisher=Espacenet |access-date=28 January 2020}}

Despite his basic research in brain function and form evolution, Vico's interest has been mainly focused on the applicability of the results. His research projects with industry have ranged from day trading to knee replacement surgery.{{cite web|url=http://www.geb.uma.es/projects/list-of-all-projects|title=Group of Studies in Biomimetics - Current and Past Projects|publisher=UMA|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217230826/http://www.geb.uma.es/projects/list-of-all-projects|url-status=dead}}

An early research project with Alcatel in the field of automating industrial design resulted in his most cited paper.{{cite journal |last1=Vico |first1=F |last2=Veredas |first2=F |last3=Bravo |first3=JM |last4=Almaraz |first4=J |date=1999 |title=Automatic design synthesis with artificial intelligence techniques |journal=Artificial Intelligence in Engineering |volume=13 |issue=3 | pages=251–256 |doi=10.1016/S0954-1810(99)00014-X}} A decade later, Vico led the Melomics project, which was a milestone in the application of artificial intelligence{{cite journal |last1=Sánchez |first1=C |last2=Moreno |first2=F |last3=Albarracin |first3=D |last4=Fernandez |first4=JD |last5=Vico |first5=F |date=2013 |title=Melomics: A Case-Study of AI in Spain |journal=AI Magazine |volume=34 |issue=3 | pages=99–103 |doi=10.1609/aimag.v34i3.2464|doi-access=free |hdl=10630/6735 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Fernandez |first1=JD |last2=Vico |first2=F |date=2013 |title=AI Methods in Algorithmic Composition: A Comprehensive Survey |journal=Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research |volume=48 | pages=513–582 |doi=10.1613/jair.3908|doi-access=free |arxiv=1402.0585 }} to computer music.{{cite news|last=Ball|first=Philip|title=Iamus, classical music's computer composer, live from Malaga|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/01/iamus-computer-composes-classical-music|accessdate=2 July 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 July 2012}}{{cite journal | last=Ball|first=Philip| title= Algorithmic Rapture| journal= Nature| volume= 188|issue=7412| year =2012| pages= 456| doi = 10.1038/488458a| doi-access= free}} This research produced Iamus,{{cite news | last=Smith|first=Sylvia| title= Iamus: Is this the 21st century's answer to Mozart?| work= BBC News Technology| date =3 January 2013| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20889644}}{{cite news | last=Peckham|first=Matt| title= Finally, a computer cluster that writes contemporary music without human help| work= Time | date =4 January 2013| url =https://techland.time.com/2013/01/04/finally-a-computer-that-writes-contemporary-music-without-human-help/}}{{cite news|last=Smoliar|first=Stephen|title=Thoughts about Iamus and the composition of music by computer|newspaper=The Examiner|date=4 January 2013}} Accessed: 10 January 2013. a computer cluster for automated composition, which composed music that was recorded in the album Iamus, and a piece interpreted by the London Symphony Orchestra, described by New Scientist as "The first major work composed by a computer and performed by a full orchestra."{{cite journal |title=Computer composer honours Turing's centenary| journal=New Scientist |date=5 July 2012 |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21528724.300-computer-composer-honours-turings-centenary.html}} For its disruptive novelty in the artistic and technological disciplines,{{cite journal|last=Stieler|first=Wolfgang|title=Die Mozart-Maschine|journal=Technology Review |location=Germany|date=December 2012 |pages=26–35| url =http://www.heise.de/tr/artikel/Die-Mozart-Maschine-1750720.html}} Melomics was acknowledged as one of the scientific contributions of 2012 by Discover magazine.{{cite news | last=Berger |first=Kevin | title= Digital Composer Records With London Symphony Orchestra| work= Discover | date =25 January 2013| url =https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/70-digital-composer-records-with-london-symphony-orchestra#.UQLJiG_8Ino}} It also found applications in health,{{cite news | last=Bosker|first=Bianca| title= Life As Francisco Vico, Creator Of The Incredible Computer-Composer Iamus| work= The Huffington Post| date =13 January 2013| url =http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/13/francisco-vico-iamus-melomics_n_2457374.html}}{{cite journal |last1=Seinfeld |first1=S |last2=Bergstrom |first2=I |last3=Pomes |first3=A |last4=Arroyo-Palacios |first4=J |last5=Vico |first5=F |last6=Slater |first6=M |last7=Sanchez-Vives |first7=MV |date=2016 |title=Influence of music on anxiety induced by fear of heights in virtual reality |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=6 |pages=1969 | doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01969|pmid=26779081 |pmc=4700138 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Raglio |first1=A |last2=Vico |first2=F |date=2017 |title=Music and technology: The curative algorithm |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=6 |pages=2055 | doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02055|pmid=29250008 |pmc=5715368 |doi-access=free }} and was presented in the Seoul Digital Forum in 2015.

Since 2015, Vico's activity has focused on educational technologies. ToolboX is a programming environment developed by Vico that adapts modern computer technology to coding education.{{cite news|last=Otiniano Pulido|first=Carlos|title=Francisco Vico: 'Los niños pueden aprender a programar desde preescolar' |url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2018/11/13/companias/1542107965_223657.html |accessdate=28 January 2020 |newspaper=El País |date=13 November 2018}}

Vico has also designed Selfo, a connection board game.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqhKd6z2JHo|title=Computational creativity will democratize music|publisher=SBS TV SDF|date=2 August 2005|last1=Vico|first1=Francisco}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vico Vela, Francisco Jose}}

Category:Academic staff of the University of Málaga

Category:Spanish computer scientists

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)