NPUC 1999 Speakers

Rosalind Picard

MIT Media Laboratory

The Importance We Feel;
Affective Computing

Abstract:

Research in affective computing aims to give computers the skills of emotional intelligence the ability to recognize, express, and “have” emotions. I will highlight our recent efforts to give computers the ability to recognize and respond intelligently to people’s expressions efforts include wearable computers with customized pattern recognition software, such as eyeglasses that communicate expressions of confusion or interest, and a wearable “startleCam” that records pictures based on the orientation of the wearer, providing one indication of what gets the wearers attention. I will also describe one way a computer respond to frustrated users with a careful mix of empathy, sympathy, and other skills of emotional intelligence. This “emotionally savvy” software significantly improved users’ willingness to interact with the system, as measured in a behavioral study involving 70 subjects, two control conditions, and a frustrating computer scenario.

Brief Biography:

Professor Rosalind W. Picard directs the Affective Computing Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Laboratory. Dr. Picard consults for companies such as Apple, AT&T, BT, HP, and Interval. She has been a keynote or plenary speaker at dozens of scientific and industrial events. Her group's work has been featured in national and international forums. She is the author of Affective Computing, (MIT Press, 1997). Rosalind is also known for her "Four Eyes" project system which demonstrates adaptive user support for digital image and video retrieval.

Rosalind received her doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT and lives in Newton, Massachusetts with her husband and son.