SimSensei, still in its early phases, uses a webcam and Kinect sensors to log people’s body language, as well as facial recognition software to read facial expressions — a downward gaze, shifting in the seat — to glean insights into a person’s mental state.
Reported in PopSci on March 29, a person’s diagnosis depends on how they respond to standard questions about their well-being, so the program is not quite ready for prime time, say University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies researchers.
The research, according to Wired magazine, developed out of a project with Darpa, the Pentagon’s research arm, to detect whether or not soldiers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The concept, however, isn’t to replace traditional therapy or treat patients, but just to diagnose mental health issues. Wired writes that a soldier, for example, could walk into a clinic, enter a private kiosk, and log on to a computer where a personal simulated therapist — with soldiers able to select among avatars — would guide him or her through a chat.
Watch the SimSensei in action: http://youtu.be/ejczMs6b1Q4
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