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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."

2 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. 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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  2. 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.