Affectiva – Changing Space Through Adaptive Technology

PROBLEM 

While working in Berlin for the Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz, I was tasked with researching and creating a solution to adaptive creative spaces. As I have taken an interest in non-verbal communication like body language and facial expressions, I decided to research facial recognition and how this study can help to better our adaptive spaces.

STRATEGY

Affectiva provides free programming for personal and research use. I implemented the software into my custom program and created a private website that would work through ones desktop camera. This application would run throughout ones normal workday to observe their moods throughout the day. The program was set to identify specific emotions like fatigue, frustration, sadness and stress. After a change in mood (like for example, the increase of fatigue), the program would detect these results and send a message to smart technology in the space to promote positivity and productivity.

OUTCOME

The program would be able to communicate with a number of smart space technologies including lighting, shades, aromas and textiles. I chose to simulate the program with aromatherapy through an essential oil diffuser. I presented my program and simulation to the directors of the Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz. They are continuing research and development in the project however they have developed the facial recognition technology into a program that is readily available in Germany now.

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