Device Developed To Help Socially Challenged

An anonymous reader writes "A device from MIT Media Labs that can pick up on people's emotions is being developed to help people with autism relate to those around them. It will alert its autistic user if the person they are talking to starts showing signs of getting bored or annoyed." From the article: "The 'emotional social intelligence prosthetic' device, which El Kaliouby is constructing along with MIT colleagues Rosalind Picard and Alea Teeters, consists of a camera small enough to be pinned to the side of a pair of glasses, connected to a hand-held computer running image recognition software plus software that can read the emotions these images show. If the wearer seems to be failing to engage his or her listener, the software makes the hand-held computer vibrate."

Socially Challenged?

[robyannetta]

"Socially challenged"? You mean WoW players?

Help For The Socially Challenged...

[__aaclcg7560]

It's about time someone tried to help the typical Slashdotter stuck in his parent's basement. :P

Slashdot? Socially Challanged?

[Cr0w T. Trollbot]

For once, this really IS "news for nerds!"

- Crow T. Trollbot

Boredom detector

[PainBot]

Hopefully I can get one for my boss

My boss is socially challenged

[Timesprout]

So we have special key words we use so he knows when I am becoming bored or angry.

He will say something like

"We need to achieve synergy across our departmental endeavour so we can proactively engage any challenges the business may face"

I will then respond

"You are a fucking wanker"

This might make someone socially challenged

[ma11achy]

Attaching a small camera to the side of someone's glasses isn't
going to bode well for someone who is already socially challenged...

Two Questions

[Anonymous Coward]

Wait, wait.... Lemesee if I understand this. This device detects when people are bored with me and then vibrates!? I only have two questions:

1. Where can I get one?
2. Can I keep it in my front pocket?

It's PERFECT!

sweet jesus, it's an emotional clippy!

[smellsofbikes]

"I see you are talking to someone who is trying to be friendly. What would you like to do now?
* gently brush the person off?
* actively engage the person
* seduce the person?"

Device Developed To Help Socially Challenged

[Peter Trepan]

Experts claim the "Microcomputer" will enable sufferers to hold down meaningful jobs while avoiding painful human interaction.

Re:Slashdot? Socially Challanged?

[TheBogie]

Slashdotters everywhere will be checking their cell phones and beepers for the vibration. Bored people talking to slashdotters will be amused by this and no longer be bored. Maybe this is for slash dotters!

There's a solution to that!

[StefanJ]

Make the device look like a little anthropomorphic cricket that sits on the user's shoulder. Program it to whisper helpful hints:

"From the way they're starting to nod off, I suspect you may have talked for a little too long about your D&D character. Maybe you should stop."

"I could be wrong, but this guy doesn't look very interested in how parking meters are a form of statist Piracy. Maybe you should stop talking and let him finish filling out that ticket."

"From the way she's wrinkling her nose, I suspect she thinks you smell like cat pee. Maybe you should politely back out now and think about taking a shower."

Re:My boss is socially challenged

[Tackhead]

> So we have special key words we use so he knows when I am becoming bored or angry.
>
> He will say something like
> "We need to achieve synergy across our departmental endeavour so we can proactively engage any challenges the business may face"
>
> I will then respond
> "You are a fucking wanker"

Naaw. Just smile, nod, and shake your boss's hand.

If the wearer seems to be failing to engage his or her listener, the software makes the hand-held computer vibrate.

He'll get the message.

Ramifications

[Chris Johnson]

The question becomes, why make the user aware of this additional information?

Expectation is that the user will apparently go, "OH! I may be boring you with my account of the history of left handed widgets! All of a sudden I don't want to finish my thought, and it mysteriously no longer matters that I haven't given you the gift of the entire intellectual structure, neatly composed with no details left out, so you can wholly share this idea that I think is the coolest thing!" ...

I have an alternate suggestion. We should make these things so that instead of actuating a vibrating motor, the alert thing operates a small robot arm attached to a light, non damaging foam bat. When the person shows signs of boredom, the robot arm actuates the bat and whacks the listener upside the head, curing their lapse of attention and saving me the trouble. :D

Surely this is a much more sensible approach, given that boredom is neither a virtue or considered to be a social advantage? We can teach those socially disadvantaged NTs to be socially polite even when the conversation ranges beyond 'kiddy pool' levels.

(Disclaimer- yes, I have Aspergers, and yes, I am joking... I think ;) should I be?)

Re:So Simple?

[temojen]

I don't think I have autism, or even aspergers, but I can't usually interpret when a woman is romatically interested in me. It would be really nice to have a device that could do this.

Re:So Simple?

[EvolveFuzzy]

Are you sure you don't need a device to get them interested in you? Maybe you should try alcohol.

Re:So Simple?

[gEvil (beta)]

*yawn*

Re:sweet jesus, it's an emotional clippy!

[jandrese]

* Put it in

Re:So Simple?

[gurutc]

I also have Aspergers, and one of the most painful things about it is that people can't believe it's possible to miss simple and seemingly impossibly obvious clues.

It's sad that folks don't know enough, yet still comment, to believe that something this simple would be a huge help.

I want one.

Re:Shocking

[geoffspear]

You're really taking your diagnosis of paranoid schizophenia a bit harshly, aren't you?

NOTE: I'm not part of the conspiracy against you. I promise.

Re:There's a solution to that!

[fbjon]

It could even go:

"The person in front of you seems to be bored stiff from your rants on the evils of DRM. Would you like to..?

• Write a letter to Sony Corp.
• Change subject to the glory of Open Source
• Learn more about boring people stiff

[ ] Don't whisper in my ear again you freak"

Re:My boss is socially challenged

[Anonymous Coward]

We just yell "Bingo!" randomly. Nowadays, our meetings are a lot shorter than they used to be.

Re:sweet jesus, it's an emotional clippy!

[Anonymous Coward]

You chose: * seduce the person.

To continue, please ensure none of the following features apply:

* sharp knees
* cankles
* ungroomed body hair
* a bored look

If, none apply, continue.

Re:So Simple?

[pHatidic]

Do you have a source on this? Your low UID makes me less inclined to trust you on these matters.

Re:You are exactly right

[Anonymous Coward]

Institute for the study of the Neurologically Typical [autistics.org]

Re:So Simple?

[russellh]

Yes

But if the hair is standing up on the back of her neck, her teeth are barred, ears back, tail between her legs, then she's probably to be avoided. Don't make eye contact.