Thursday 30 December 2010

This Can't End Well...

...for exasperated drivers, help may be at hand in the shape of a satnav system that understands a driver’s emotions and adjusts its behaviour accordingly.
Bad move, scientists!

This is the brainchild of one Professor Peter Robinson, who got irritated with his sat-nav:
‘The problem is computers don’t react to how I feel – if I’m pleased or annoyed they just ignore me. We’re building emotionally intelligent computers that can read my mind and know how I feel.

‘Computers are really good at understanding what someone is typing or saying. But they need to understand not just what I’m saying, but how I’m saying it.’

His team hopes to develop a robot that can communicate with humans.
Can Skynet be far behind?

And as Manwiddecombe points out, could this be a way of getting yet another type of monitoring equipment into as many cars as possible?

11 comments:

Zaphod said...

Scientists, bless em, they mean well.
Perhaps they'll be able to teach robots to understand humans, when they've learned that themselves.

As if!

Jiks said...

I thought this was a TERRIBLE idea when I read about this earlier ... and that was before I knew about the freaky robot head thing!

I suspect, looking at the picture in that article the "sensitive" chap simply wanted some company on his lonely journeys. He doesn't look very happy, does he?

Anonymous said...

Great, it is bad enough with Bitchin' Bettie moaning to "go to the nearest road" as it is. Now the Moanin' Minnie wants to read my mind - How is the Axe - Bratnav interface working now?

microdave said...

You need one of these:

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/sat-nag/

They're brilliant!

subrosa said...

I rather liked the idea of having a pleasant head in the passenger seat. Would be a great improvement on my current one. :)

Brian, follower of Deornoth said...

This wheeze has succeeded in its primary objective: to get Peter Robinson's name in the paper.

Has he just sent off a grant application, I wonder?

RAB said...

Jesus! Sat/Navs that know how you feel? rather than the way to go?

Imagine the conversation...

Dave, I know you programmed me for your parents place, but you dont really want to go there do you?

You were going to make your big announcement this weekend wern't you? But you just can't face it can you?

So how about we head for Brighton and have a little fun instead?...

The King of Wrong said...

All I can think after seeing those photos is "Welcome to JohnnyCab!"

English Viking said...

What happens when it becomes 'self-aware'?

JuliaM said...

"He doesn't look very happy, does he?"

No, but I expect the grant money will help...

"You need one of these..."

:D

"I rather liked the idea of having a pleasant head in the passenger seat. Would be a great improvement on my current one. :)"

I'm pretty sure I've seen something sold as an aid to women travelling alone.

No, not one of those..! Sheesh!

It was something designed so a female would seem to be travelling with a male companion, to protect her from unwanted attention. Perhaps the good prof would like to consider a secondary marketing angle?

JuliaM said...

Imagine the conversation...""

Indeed!

"All I can think after seeing those photos is "Welcome to JohnnyCab!""

Heh! I'd forgotten that one!