Inner Revolutionary Radio

Imagine that your phone or tablet can detect your emotions in real time. This isn’t some far off fantasy. Already, researchers at MIT’s Media Lab have taught the eyes in our machines to detect human emotions. As we look at the screen, the screen can watch us – where we look and how we react. And they have developed software so aware of subtle human emotions that they say it can detect if someone is depressed. Currently, it can identify about two dozen different emotions. One application already being demonstrated is that, as we are reading, the “eye” can determine if we’re are engaged or perplexed with a passage of text. Since this is in real time, the software can apply it to what we’ve viewing. Let’s say we’re reading a book and our expression shows that we are struggling with a particular word. The text could then show a definition. With these expanding capabilities, could our devices become our digital counselors, supporting us to stop and reflect? Tune in to find out!