Mind reading computers
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This document discusses research into developing mind reading computers. It begins with an introduction to the concept of mind reading and theory of mind. It then explains that existing computers are "mind blind" and unable to understand user's mental states. The document outlines how researchers are working to develop computers that can observe facial expressions with cameras and recognize emotions. It notes the technology involves measuring blood oxygen levels in the brain using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The document discusses both the advantages of improving human-computer interaction and the ethical issues regarding privacy and prediction of human behavior.
Mind reading computers
- 2. CONTENTS Introduction What is mind reading? Why mind reading? How does it work? Advantages and uses Disadvantages and problems conclusion
- 3. INTRODUCTION o People express their mental state including thoughts and desires, all the times through facial expressions,vocal nuances and gestures. This is true even when they are interacting with machines. o The ability to attribute mental states to others from their behaviour and to use that knowledge to guide our own actions and predict those of others is known as theory of mind or mind reading. o Existing human computers are mind blind, oblivious to the user’s mental states and intentions.
- 4. WHAT IS MIND READING? . With a special camera, the computer observes a person's emotions through facial expressions. The computer does this by observing what the team calls "feature points" -- prominent features on the face -- to measure movements of the head or facial features. In total, there are 24 feature points the computer watches for and 20 movements, regardless of what's on a person's face. So far, the computer's database is full of actors' faces doing their best to express joy, sorrow, anger, confusion and other emotions.
- 5. Why mind reading? • The mind reading machine is a gadget, which enables the computer to read the mind of human through their facial expression. • The main objective behind this gadget is to increase the effectiveness of the human interaction with the computer. • This improves the output and allows running the application without any users input or response. Which means the computer does not have to wait for input from the user to run the application.
- 6. HOW DOES IT WORK? FUTURUSTIC HEADBAND • The mind reading actually involves measuring the volume and oxygen level of th blood around the subject’s brain using the technology called functional near-infrared spectroscopy(FNIRS). • The user wears a sort of futuristic headband that sends light in that spectrum into the tissues of the head where it is absorbed by active, bloodfilled tissues.
- 7. ADVANTAGES • The finding raises issues about the application of such tools for screening suspected terrorists as well as for predicting future dangerousness more generally. • The day when computers will be able to recognize the smallest units in the English language—the 40-odd basic sounds (orphonemes) out of which all words orverbalized thoughts can be constructed.
- 8. DISADVANTAGES • Nor is society ready to deal with the ethical and practical problems posed by a system that classifies and categorizes people based on oxygen flow, genetics and environmental factors that are correlated as much with poverty as with future criminality. • In time, neuroscience may produce reliable behavior predictions. But until then, we should take the lessons of science fiction to heart when deciding how to use new predictive techniques.
- 9. CONCLUSION • Tufts university researches have begun a 3 year research project which, if successful, will allow computers to respond to the brain activity of the computer’s users. • Users wear a futuristic looking headbands to shine light on their foreheads and then performs a series of increasingly difficult tasks while the device reads what parts of the brain are absorbing the light. That info is then transferred to the computer and from there the computer can adjust it’s interface and functions to each individual.