Who doesn’t want to have the super power to read minds? That ability might not be too far off in the future. Microsoft has been awarded a patent for goggles that could detect the feelings of people nearby. Like a high-tech mood ring, instead of detecting your own mood however, you will be able to decipher the moods of others.
As revealed in a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing (and first spotted by The Wall Street Journal), Microsoft may have its eye on developing a “wearable emotion detection and feedback system.” By wearing a see-through head mounted display or sensing gadget, one would be able to “detect audible and visual behaviors of a subject in a field of view of the device.”
Image: Microsoft, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The device would rely on its various sensors, cameras and a microphone positioned near the bridge of your nose to interpret human gestures, expressions, posture and speech. It also picks up on subtle changes, such as temperature, word choice and voice quality and speed. It would then provide data and feedback in real time to the person wearing the headset.
Image: Microsoft. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
“Emotional states are computed based on the behaviors and feedback provided to the wearer indicating computed emotional states of the subject,” the patent stated.
Image: Microsoft. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The goggles would also be able to sense how larger groups are reacting to things — for example, if a user is giving a presentation and wants to survey how it’s going.
It’s unclear if Microsoft will ever bring this detection headgear to life, but the patent indicates it wants to ensure no one else gets there first.
Source: Mashable Tech, Samantha Murphy Kelly
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