So you think you’re totally in control of your emotions, or at least the visible aspect of it. People can’t tell if you’re hurting deep inside, or maybe bored to death.
That kind of control can sure come in handy a lot, but with the new facial recognition software that some guys from MIT have developed, your poker face (or a phony smile face, rather) might just be totally useless.
If you are con artist, or anything of that sort, you best be on the lookout. They guys at MIT Media Lab have developed facial recognition software that can tell if a person is truly expressing his emotions with a smile or if he is simply faking it.
I think that we all know it, and that we’ve all had experienced it. A person smiles at you, but deep inside, he may be seething or feel disgusted.
Using specific points in the face, the facial recognition software can tell if a person’s smile is genuine or phony.
The trick?
Apparently, it’s all about timing. When a person’s face lights up in genuine delight, the smile takes time to blossom. In contrast, a fake smile appears quickly and disappears just as fast.
The research was done with a particular goal in mind: to help people working in sectors where face to face communication is critical. Think about workers who deal with people with impairments, such as those with autism. With this facial recognition software, they may be able to discern non-verbal cues better, resulting in more efficient communication. Of course, there is also the possibility of using the system for lie detection and other similar purposes.
Read more about the study at Singularity Hub.