Sat, Aug 15, 2009 | 19:18 BST
Sony patents a system that can detect emotions
A patent filed by Sony, and found by Siliconera, shows a system that detects laughter, sadness, anger, boredom, and other emotions caused by watching David Caruso on the telly.
Apparently, it uses metadata which detects emotions filtered through a microphone and expressions picked up by the camera. Both are then linked to the game console (PS3), and transfers said data over a network.
The patent mentions body gesture identification and the ability to track group interactions “such as when two individuals give each other a High Five”, and can also detect boredom if a user is “looking away from the presentation, yawning, or talking over the presentation.”
It’s not just limited to games, either. It can also be used for TV shows, films, and media presentations.
What will Sony think of next.
Via Joystiq.
9 
Posted in: Development, PS3, Sony, hardware
Tags: emotion patent, laugh patent, sony patent
9 comments
#1
Razor
15/08/09, 7:20 pm
Anyone who laughs like the man in that picture should really be in medical care.
#2
Hunam
15/08/09, 7:27 pm
That picture is fucking ace.
#3
joseangelhe
15/08/09, 7:37 pm
Can you imagine how this would work with porn?
#4
Stephany Nunneley
15/08/09, 7:41 pm
LMFAO! I was waiting for someone to say that, congrats joseangelhe – you won.
#5
phatb0y
16/08/09, 2:54 am
Skynet@Home confirmed.
#6
jnms
16/08/09, 9:20 am
As I said the other day, just wait till this tech. monitors what movies, TV shows and adverts you enjoy. Right about then, machines will start taking over a lot of our choices for us. After all, why will we need to choose when our PS3 / XBox 360 already knows what we like way ahead of the moment we would usually make the choice. Especially if it knows what choice we would be making…
…I dread to think how this crap will work with Facebook / Twitter functionality. Imagine the automated updateds: “jnms is watching 24 and bored”, “jnms has gone to sleep”, “jnms is coming at me with a hammer”…
Fuck it.
#7
Tonka
16/08/09, 1:34 pm
Epic illustration. It’s even worse than nintendos evil dwarf on rocking horse
#8
ieatpaste
16/08/09, 5:24 pm
The illustration is actually a diagram from an actual patent. Sony probably is using it to make sure their patent gets passed or passed faster by the US PTO.
#9
Gekidami
16/08/09, 7:14 pm
Its interesting that the camera in the patent isnt the PSEye, hard to say what that could mean though i really cant see Sony releasing a mic and camera separate.