Obama or Romney? Face-reading software monitors viewers’ responses to debate
November 5, 2012
New Scientist asked readers to take part in an online project designed to give a more fine-grained view of the public’s reactions to politics.
About 80 readers watched clips from the third and final presidential debate while face-reading software recorded subtle emotional cues via webcams. Developed by Affectiva of Waltham, Massachusetts, the software tracked six categories of expression: smiles, surprise, confusion or dislike, disgust, attention, and valence, a general measure of how positively or negatively the viewer reacted to the clips.
An interactive graph allows you to explore readers’ responses to the final debate.
Such information could one day be used by pundits to assess reactions to debates and attack ads, or by the candidates themselves to tailor their messages and even their body language.
Comments (13)
by Aaron
Both sides’ candidates are hand-picked by the same 47 people anyway. http://www.juancole.com/2012/08/your-election-is-being-bought-by-47-billionaires-and-they-are-buying-war-climate-change.html
Why would I want to vote for either? I’d just be picking which toadie of the same mob boss I prefer.
by omran al-kandari
Will i don’t have an freedom issue with cameras on the street because it helps the country security which will have an impact on my life , i think this software is a good thing in many ways .
by Mr.X
@Omran : Well -according to themselves- every dictartorship is about security for the people.Those who give up freedom for security, will lose both in the long run ;)
by Smita Purushottam
Brave New World, excessive monitoring will take away our freedom.
by america
brave new world or not, the impact of musilm radicalism on society deems it necessary for this kind of technology
by Mr.X
@america- the home of the brave- what a joke :)
by J R Zagar
Maybe if we’d stop using our military and economic superiority to force them to do things the way WE want, perhaps they wouldn’t feel the need to be radical. Western powers have been dividing up their land and imposing governments of our choice for generations.
by Bob Smith
Wonderful that political players and corporations will be able to read our faces to see how big a sucker we are, and jack up the price of whatever we buy online, or in the store. “Personalized pricing” is coming even to brick and mortar stores. Political parties and foreign governments, even terror groups would get to know you better than you know yourself. How dumb are these fools , it’ll be used against them, and their children.
by Disgruntled
BOTOX.
by MrFriendly
They both make me projectile vomit. I wonder how the software would handle that.
by AZryan
Blame the ‘low-information’ ‘undecided’ voters they have to charm with utter nonsense to win an election. But if they didn’t play that idiotic game they would just lose with honor and dignity.
by MrFriendly
Yes, those poor, honorable and dignified politicians ;)
I reserve my concern and respect for the soldiers and marines who keep us safe.
by Vin
Simple, plastic surgery will confound those pesky readers. It’s gonna be a new face-race cold war era.