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Japan Technology

Lying Eyes: Cyborg Glasses Simulate Eye Expressions 56

Posted by samzenpus from the all-the-better-to-see-you-with dept.
Rambo Tribble (1273454) writes "A researcher in Japan has taken what is, perhaps, the next step after Google Glass: Glasses which produce animated images of the user's eyes to simulate emotional responses. They are intended to aid workers in emotionally-intensive environments. As the researcher explains, '... they allowed others to feel they were "cared" about ...'"
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Lying Eyes: Cyborg Glasses Simulate Eye Expressions More

Lying Eyes: Cyborg Glasses Simulate Eye Expressions

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  • authenticity (Score:5, Insightful)

    by kruach aum ( 1934852 ) on Friday April 18, 2014 @05:40AM (#46786163)

    Why would anyone interpret simulated expressions as genuine other than to delude themselves? And if you're willing to delude yourself, you could also just interpret apathy as caring. I don't understand how this is supposed to work.

    • Why would anyone interpret simulated expressions as genuine other than to delude themselves? And if you're willing to delude yourself, you could also just interpret apathy as caring. I don't understand how this is supposed to work.

      Maybe the same reason that it's easier to suspend disbelief when staring at a TV show instead of a blank wall?

      Because you could just imagine the action and adventure without any visual aid, but it's easier with one.

      • But my imagination never suffers from bad actors, dumb dialogue or terrible cgi. The point of movies, tv shows and especially books is not that they make it easier to imagine, but that they can show you things you wouldn't have thought of by yourself, which is not applicable in the emo-glasses situation.

    • I really don't know. Maybe some sex line operator can inform you? Given their abundance, I think enough people like to be fooled.

      What is more scary is that this can be used on people who just don't know any better and react to instincts. In other words: babies. Would a baby accept a robot nanny as its mum in the future?

    • Surely I'm not the only one who finds this ... well... a bit creepy?

    • Probably because, as a matter of empirical psychological fact, you would find the latter impossible and the former irresistible.

    • Ever looked at a cartoon, or illustrated character? It's human instinct. We can interpret emotion in just two dots an a line :) Illustrated characters can easily express hyper-emotional levels far beyond what a real face could manage, an ability often utilised for dramatic or comedic effect. It wouldn't be a matter of willingness to delude onesself - even if you know the emotion is fake, it would take a deliberate effort not to be deluded subconsciously.

    • Well there is research showing that it is hard to be analytic and empathetic at the same time. That is why a lot of Doctors who are treating difficult cases, seem very detached from the patients, it isn't because they are just a nasty person. But because they are trying to solve your problem, and that gets in the way of being empathetic.
      The same thing with tech people, it IS NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE AUTISM or some other issue, but because we are thinking analytically pushing aside our empathy.

      Even if we know t

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by ljw1004 ( 764174 )

      If I understand, your question is basically, "why is the human brain's amygdala hard-wired to produce emotional responses in this way?"

      There's no really good answer, other than "it just is" and maybe some handwaving about evolutionary psychology.

    • Maybe this has greater applicability in robotics? It's probably cheaper to outfit a robot with a pair of these glasses that try to mimic the complex expressions of eye movements with tiny motors.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hey! ( 33014 )

      What about acting? Or fiction? These are artificial experiences that evoke real emotional responses. Once the right buttons in your brain are pushed, most of your brain can't tell the difference between what is real and what is synthetic.

      Granted, authenticity in human interactions is important, but it's overrated. Fake engagement often is a perfectly acceptable substitute. Situations where people put considerable effort into *seeming* pleasant usually *are* more pleasant than they would be if everyone felt

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) *

      You have to understand Japanese society. It's complicated but basically people in service industries ate expected to have a "service attitude" all the time. It's hard for them to maintain that, so assuming this could be developed to the point where it were not uncanny there might be uses for it. Look at it this way, everyone knows that the "service attitude" isn't the person's real feeling anyway, so this isn't any more fake.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by ZeroPly ( 881915 )
      I don't know... I've been around a few people who are holding on to that last rung by their fingernails, and you'd be surprised at how little it takes for them to think that someone cares...

  • why stop there? (Score:3)

    by cascadingstylesheet ( 140919 ) on Friday April 18, 2014 @05:55AM (#46786199) Journal

    Just simulate the whole face ... we won't even have to show up!

  • Uncanny valley. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by drolli ( 522659 ) on Friday April 18, 2014 @06:04AM (#46786225) Journal

    Wow they just managed to create uncanny deep holes to fall into.

  • Either the person looking at me cares about how I feel. Then he will be pissed that I try to delude him.

    Or he doesn't give a shit how I feel. Then it does not matter what I look like.

    And now tell me again why I'd want to spend money on that.

  • Get a dog (Score:3, Funny)

    by PolygamousRanchKid ( 1290638 ) on Friday April 18, 2014 @06:29AM (#46786265)

    Dogs always give you the feeling that they care about you. The wagging tail, the dumb look in the face, the tongue hanging down to the ground . . .

    Forget cats, though. You could sink in quicksand if front of a cat, and it will barely give you a glance the entire time.

  • The eyes... (Score:3)

    by puddingebola ( 2036796 ) on Friday April 18, 2014 @07:29AM (#46786413) Journal
    The eyes are the window to the soul. Perhaps in a job that requires that people show empathy and understanding at all times this is too demanding, but what does it mean when we make an electronic device to simulate emotions we aren't feeling. I am skeptical that people want to use something like this, but I could be wrong. I guess in the 80's we had mirror shades to hide a person's eyes, and other people looking at them could see themselves. Maybe this is just an extension of the technology of emotional distance.

  • This is not "innovation" or a new "tech frontier"

    This is reductive design, with the human usage of the tech as almost an afterthought

    Anyone who spends any budget money on this shit is a total idiot

  • Did anyone watch the video and notice that there's no way to actually see when you're wearing these?

    This technology is obviously not ready for prime time...

  • All to make a quick buck. Despicable and repulsive.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward
      It's an upgrade from the old technology (self help books about social skills)
  • I could use them for my wife long dissertations about "how her day was"...

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by mevets ( 322601 )

      Donâ(TM)t worry. I have a feeling you wonâ(TM)t have to put up with that for much longer.

  • Successful Glasses (Score:3)

    by cstacy ( 534252 ) on Friday April 18, 2014 @11:48AM (#46787891)

    The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made.

  • Fantastic. I could wear it during jury duty. And no one would know I was asleep.

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