Mood-Detecting Sensor Could Help Machines Respond to Emotions

Emotions can be detected remotely using a device that emits wireless signals to help it measure heartbeat and breathing, say researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. The new device, named "EQ-Radio," is 87 percent accurate at detecting whether a person is excited, happy, angry or sad--all without on-body sensors or facial-recognition software. "We picture EQ-Radio being used in entertainment, consumer behavior, and healthcare," says the study's lead researcher, Mingmin Zhao. "For example," says Zhao, a graduate student, "smart homes could use information about your emotions to adjust the music or even suggest that you get some fresh air if you've been sad for a few days." Zhao adds that remote emotion monitoring could eventually be used to diagnose or track conditions like depression and anxiety."