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Mood-Sensing Computer

Posted by michael on from the his-master's-voice dept.

handy_vandal writes "'A team at Vanderbilt University is ... developing a robotic assistant whose goal is .. [to] respond to the moods of its human master.' For use on the battlefield -- e.g. when a soldier is overcome with anxiety."

4 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. well that should be helpful by banky · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sir, it seems the entire 3rd Division is feeling a little anxious.

    You will also note that most of the Marines in the 187th Expeditionary Force are also nervous about their impending landing.

    Lastly sir, the pilots have... the heebee jeebies.

    Impending War/Risk of painful death == anxiety

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    ZOMG I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ON MACINTOSH VERSUS WINDOWS, VI VERSUS EMACS, AND HOW YOU'RE NOT A DORK
  2. Maybe not a good idea by bdigit · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't know about you guys but if I am having a panic attack the last thing I want to do is talk to anyone. You just want to get out of where you are, fight or flight. Having a robot asking me questions about how I feel really wouldn't ease any of my anxiety. Although a nice feature would be for the robot to dispense some xanax.

  3. Re:battle? by kisrael · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If I think I am going to die in a battlefield and I am shitting in my pants, a robot will do nothing to ease my anxiety or fear. What is it going to do, smile at me when I am freaking out and just trying to survive?

    Maybe it could inject some really good drugs? Hyperprozac plus adrenalin?

    --
    SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
  4. Computer as Tool by lostchicken · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Whenever I read about projects that will alter the way my computer works to better fit what it thinks it needs, I pray that it will never grace my computer. I use my computer as a very, very powerful tool, and, like any good tool, I want it to do exactly what I say, even if it may seem that I am making a mistake. Don't do anything I didn't tell you to do.

    The 'mood' sensing properties of a computer system would be the worst kind of unwanted adaptation. It would change the way my computer works according to something I cannot always control fully. I want to be in control of my computer, so to do that, everything my computer does must be based on things in my control.

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    -twb