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Computers that can understand our emotions?

PhD student Tom Christy and Prof Lucy Kuncheva try out the prototype deviceHaving a computer that can read our emotions could lead to all sorts of new applications, including computer games where the player has to control their emotions while playing. Thomas Christy, a Computer Science PhD student at 91精品黑料吃瓜 is hoping to bring this reality a little nearer by developing a system that will enable computers to read and interpret our emotions and moods in real time.

Tom鈥檚 work focuses on 鈥榟ands-on鈥� pattern recognition and machine learning. His supervisor Professor Lucy Kuncheva at the University鈥檚 School of Computer Science is a world expert in pattern recognition and classification, specifically in classifier ensembles. A classifier ensemble is a group of programmes that independently analyse data and decide to which label or group the data belongs. The final decision is reached by a 鈥榤ajority鈥� or consensus, and is often more accurate than individual classifier decisions.

The plan is to combine brain wave information collected from a single electrode that sits on the forehead as part of a 鈥榟eadset鈥�, a skin conductance response (which will detect tiny changes in perspiration as first indicators of stress) and a pulse signal, reflecting the wearer鈥檚 heart rate. This information will form the data fed into a classifier ensemble set to determine which emotion a person is experiencing. 

鈥淚 am particularly interested in developing a real-time 鈥榤ood sensing鈥� device. It will combine already existing biometric detection devices into a lightweight portable system that will be able to perceive and indicate a person鈥檚 mood and level of stress and anxiety,鈥� said Tom.

Tom is aiming to pioneer classification software techniques that will allow players鈥� emotions to be identified within the gaming environment. This will open up new and exciting markets for the gaming industry. New games can be created; where players must control their feelings in order to advance within their virtual environment. 

鈥淭his area of emotional study is fast becoming an important part of research within Computer Science and is known as Affective Computing,鈥� explained Prof. Lucy Kuncheva.

There are many other possible applications for this type of technology, for example marketing to determine customer preferences and brand effectiveness, monitoring anxiety levels of prospective soldiers during military training, providing instant neuro-feedback to combat addictive behaviours; the list is seemingly endless.

Tom is working in close collaboration with the 91精品黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Schools of Electronic Engineering and Psychology and has had talks with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA in pursuit of his research. He is looking for industrial collaborators and innovators who would be interested in this area. 

Tom comes from Upper Llandwrog in Gwynedd. He gained a first class degree in Computer Science at 91精品黑料吃瓜 in 2009.

Anyone who is interested working with them to develop this system should contact Prof. Lucy Kuncheva e-mail: l.i.kuncheva@bangor.ac.uk; telephone 01248 383661.

Publication date: 19 January 2011