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Researchers Aim To "Read Minds" of PC Users

Posted by kdawson on from the knew-you-were-going-to-say-that dept.

hhavensteincw writes "Scientists at Tufts University are researching the use of light aimed at the forehead to measure the stress, work overload, or distraction a computer user may be feeling, as a way to adjust the UI to adapt to a user's emotional state. The research combines biomedical engineering and machine learning to adjust the UI. The project, which requires users to wear a futuristic head band, uses light to measure the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain that signals a user's rising stress levels typically associated with increasingly difficult tasks."

8 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. Does it run as a daemon? by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder how a resident daemon would interpret the user's reaction after typing "rm -rf /" instead of "rm -rf ./"

    How would it adjust the UI to fit his mood? Perhaps a soothing blue would be in order.

    1. Re:Does it run as a daemon? by Xiph · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Headline seems a bit sensationalists, they're not reading minds, they MEASURING STRESS.

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  2. Yup by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 4, Funny

    Raise of my temperature means I'm wanking off at porn.... No surprise to me ;-)

  3. 2001 by kcbrown · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Scientists at Tufts University are researching the use of light aimed at the forehead to measure the stress, work overload, or distraction a computer user may be feeling, as a way to adjust the UI to adapt to a user's emotional state.

    Aha. I always wondered what HAL's light was for...

    "Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over."

    If my computer "adjusts" its UI the way HAL did, I'm gonna kick it's ass...

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    1. Re:2001 by JustOK · · Score: 4, Funny

      its just the computer moving the apostrophe key because of your stress level

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      rewriting history since 2109
  4. Hmm... by Erikderzweite · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If they make it possible to make interface work better if I am stressed, I will have only one question - why not turn the "stressed" option on by default?
    I simply don't get it, if they think they can make programs work safer/faster/better, why can't they do this without the need for me to be stressed.

  5. Obligatory by StarfishOne · · Score: 4, Funny


    1. You're late for a presentation

    2. You fire up PowerPoint in a desperate attempt to make some crucial changes to keep your potential customers happy

    3. Your computer sees that you're stressed... which it considers to be unhealthy

    4. Then Clippy pops up and says 'I can't do that Dave'!

  6. This is why apple does well by Joe+Tie. · · Score: 4, Insightful

    which requires users to wear a futuristic head band

    This is one of those few times when I find myself wishing for more female representation. For some reason, male geeks just don't seem to understand the publics fashion sense. Futuristic headband=dork headgear. The look is 'more' important than the functionality when it comes to getting anything which needs to be worn out the door. And if it means a headband, it's never going to get into public use.

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