Communications of the ACM
Dell's New Research Division Wants Computers to Detect Your Mood
Dell Research is experimenting with ways to detect a person's mood, which could inform computers involved in education and communications.
Credit: Wisdom Petals
Dell Research is conducting experiments with brain and body sensors to detect a person's mood for use in computers involved with education and communications.
Jai Menon, Dell's chief research officer, says the experiments at the company's new research division will use a person's brain waves, heart rate, and other body functions to detect when a person is happy, sad, anxious, fearful, or has other feelings. In the future, Menon says this mood input could be channeled to help a teacher know when students are most alert and ready to learn or to help managers better communicate with workers. "There's a lot of potential in daily use. Say I'm in my car and calling somebody and sudden fear is sensed. Well, that fear could drive a call to 9-1-1, for example," he says. "In gaming, the game can become more interesting depending on our moods, and if a device senses trepidation on my opponent's part, then maybe I can beat you now."
Menon says the researchers also want to determine if certain brain activity or other body indicators cause the same moods in a majority of people. However, he cautions, the mood research is in its early stages.
From Computerworld
View Full Article
Abstracts Copyright © 2014 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
No entries found