Project Dylan - Amazon's Voice-Activated Wearable That Recognizes Human Emotions
Amazon is apparently developing a voice-activated wearable device that can discern the emotional state of the user based on the sound of his voice.
Technovelgy readers may recall a 2010 device, Affectiva's Q Sensor device, which also is a wearable that tries to discern emotional changes in the wearer (see Q Sensor Wristband Detects Emotions).
Designed to work with a smartphone app, the device has microphones paired with software that can discern the wearer’s emotional state from the sound of his or her voice, according to the documents and a person familiar with the program. Eventually the technology could be able to advise the wearer how to interact more effectively with others, the documents show.
It’s unclear how far along the project is, or if it will ever become a commercial device. Amazon gives teams wide latitude to experiment with products, some of which will never come to market. Work on the project, code-named Dylan, was ongoing recently, according to the documents and the person, who requested anonymity to discuss an internal matter. A beta testing program is underway, this person said, though it’s unclear whether the trial includes prototype hardware, the emotion-detecting software or both.
Fans of the 1994 anime Macross Plus may recall that Sharon Apple, the virtual idol singer, provides special bracelets to people who view her concerts. The bracelets provide direct feedback on their emotional state during each concert.
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