Getting Computers To Recognize Facial Expressions

Zothecula writes "Binghamton University computer scientist Lijun Yin thinks that using a computer should be a comfortable and intuitive experience, like talking to a friend. As anyone who has ever yelled 'Why did you go and do that?' at their PC or Mac will know, however, using a computer is currently sometimes more like talking to an overly-literal government bureaucrat who just doesn't get you. Thanks to Yin's work with things like emotion recognition, however, that might be on its way to becoming a thing of the past."

Comments

Face recognition

[Pricetx]

I think if my computer had face recognition it would grow scared of me over time! (either that or just start arguing back at me, that would be almost as bad as using vista :o).

Re:Face recognition

[Anonymous Coward]

Just what I need when I get home from work, 2 women asking me about my feelings. "I"M FINE - JUST COMPILE MUTHER F$*#KER!"

already seen the result of this:

[Krau Ming]

Terminator shoots man in leg.
John Connor: what the hell did you do that for???
Terminator: because you told me to.

A computer is a tool.

[gblackwo]

I'm not sure I want my tools to respond differently to me depending on what mood I'm in.

As a learning tool

[MarkRose]

As an aspie, and someone who has partial face blindness and trouble recognizing facial expression of emotions, I'd find such research interesting as a learning tool. For instance, I can't tell the difference between fear and anger. Nor did I recognize the surprised face in the article. I just don't "see" it like other people do. If we can more precisely quantify the expression of emotion, it would certainly help me learn read and differentiate emotions when necessary.

Re:Why did it do that?

[Hatta]

Which brings up an interesting point (others -- care to weight in?): if/when you yell "at your computer," are you yelling at your computer, or a particular piece of software / hardware?

Neither. You're yelling at the programmers.

I don't get it.

[wcrowe]

I don't understand what my computer is supposed to DO once it has determined what my emotion is. The only everyday application I can see for this is marketing. I am sure marketers would like to register your reaction when you see something. I don't see how that helps ME. I mean, if the computer sees that I'm angry or surprised or whatever, what is it supposed to DO?