 |
If someone is absorbed in what they are
watching or doing -- what Dr Witchel calls 'rapt engagement' -- there is
a decrease in involuntary non-instrumental movements. The discovery
could have a significant impact on the development of artificial
intelligence.
Credit: © pathdoc / Fotolia
|
Computers are able to read a person's body
language to tell whether they are bored or interested in what they see
on the screen, according to a new study led by body-language expert Dr
Harry Witchel, Discipline Leader in Physiology at Brighton and Sussex
Medical School (BSMS).
The research shows that by measuring a person's movements as they use
a computer, it is possible to judge their level of interest by
monitoring whether they display the tiny movements that people usually
constantly exhibit, known as non-instrumental movements.
If someone is absorbed in what they are watching or doing -- what Dr Witchel calls 'rapt engagement' -- there is a decrease in these involuntary movements.
Dr Witchel said: "Our study showed that when someone is really highly engaged in what they're doing, they suppress these tiny involuntary movements. It's the same as when a small child, who is normally constantly on the go, stares gaping at cartoons on the television without moving a muscle.
The discovery could have a significant impact on the development of artificial intelligence. Future applications could include the creation of online tutoring programmes that adapt to a person's level of interest, in order to re-engage them if they are showing signs of boredom. It could even help in the development of companion robots, which would be better able to estimate a person's state of mind.
Also, for experienced designers such as movie directors or game makers, this technology could provide complementary moment-by-moment reading of whether the events on the screen are interesting. While viewers can be asked subjectively what they liked or disliked, a non-verbal technology would be able to detect emotions or mental states that people either forget or prefer not to mention.
"Being able to 'read' a person's interest in a computer program could bring real benefits to future digital learning, making it a much more two-way process," Dr Witchel said. "Further ahead it could help us create more empathetic companion robots, which may sound very 'sci fi' but are becoming a realistic possibility within our lifetimes."
In the study, 27 participants faced a range of three-minute stimuli on a computer, from fascinating games to tedious readings from EU banking regulation, while using a handheld trackball to minimise instrumental movements, such as moving the mouse. Their movements were quantified over the three minutes using video motion tracking. In two comparable reading tasks, the more engaging reading resulted in a significant reduction (42%) of non-instrumental movement.
If someone is absorbed in what they are watching or doing -- what Dr Witchel calls 'rapt engagement' -- there is a decrease in these involuntary movements.
Dr Witchel said: "Our study showed that when someone is really highly engaged in what they're doing, they suppress these tiny involuntary movements. It's the same as when a small child, who is normally constantly on the go, stares gaping at cartoons on the television without moving a muscle.
The discovery could have a significant impact on the development of artificial intelligence. Future applications could include the creation of online tutoring programmes that adapt to a person's level of interest, in order to re-engage them if they are showing signs of boredom. It could even help in the development of companion robots, which would be better able to estimate a person's state of mind.
Also, for experienced designers such as movie directors or game makers, this technology could provide complementary moment-by-moment reading of whether the events on the screen are interesting. While viewers can be asked subjectively what they liked or disliked, a non-verbal technology would be able to detect emotions or mental states that people either forget or prefer not to mention.
"Being able to 'read' a person's interest in a computer program could bring real benefits to future digital learning, making it a much more two-way process," Dr Witchel said. "Further ahead it could help us create more empathetic companion robots, which may sound very 'sci fi' but are becoming a realistic possibility within our lifetimes."
In the study, 27 participants faced a range of three-minute stimuli on a computer, from fascinating games to tedious readings from EU banking regulation, while using a handheld trackball to minimise instrumental movements, such as moving the mouse. Their movements were quantified over the three minutes using video motion tracking. In two comparable reading tasks, the more engaging reading resulted in a significant reduction (42%) of non-instrumental movement.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Sussex. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Sussex. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Source: sciencedaily.com
No comments:
Post a Comment