“We are nearing a point where our smartphones will be able to recognize a face or voice, in real life or on-screen,” Gary Shapiro writes for The Washington Post. “And identification is only the most basic of the possibilities. Many app-makers are experimenting with software that can also analyze – able to determine someone’s emotions or honesty just by a few facial cues.”
“Algorithms are now being developed that link thousands of facial cues with human emotions. Our brains do this naturally – we know without asking whether someone is happy or upset based only on their expressions,” Shapiro writes. “Law enforcement and poker players take this a step further, using facial cues to determine someone’s honesty. But with technology augmenting our brain’s natural behavior – possibly providing direct, measurable and verifiable input – we can produce measurable and verifiable data. As sensors move from our smartphones to activity trackers to smartwatches… we are measuring more than ever and are not far off from continuously tracking our emotions. And software is now in development to interpret people’s emotions, then project the results via an app onto a screen.”
“As we uncover our deceptions – implicit and explicit, including those of which we have convinced even ourselves – a market for technology that hides our emotions will arise. Entrepreneurs may create “emotion-cloaking devices.” Facial coverings may become more popular. Perhaps there’ll be sanctuaries where no devices are allowed, either by custom or law — an atmosphere akin to how we now feel about taking pictures in public bathrooms and kids’ classrooms,” Shapiro writes. “One thing is for sure: politics is in for a major overhaul. With every smartphone possessing a virtual lie-detector test, elected officials will need to be creative in the ways they talk to us. In fact, my fear is the most insecure and most powerful politicians will resist, and quickly seek to regulate or restrict these technologies — ignoring their obvious good — in a hidden but discoverable attempt to preserve their own power and half-truths.”
Much more in the full article – recommended – here.
I’m already prepared. I always tell the truth. It’s easy to repeat. “No, that dress doesn’t make you look fat. You are fat. That’s what makes you look fat.”
“No, I don’t care for the ‘First Black President,’ and I do not wish to accompany you to a fund raiser even if you pay for my plate. I’d rather you take the $30K and feed and cloth some people.”
“I’d love to work on your project, but I really don’t want to work with you.”
The truth is fun. It’s not great for your social life, but you’ll go to sleep with a smirk on you face.
lol, I like your first one.
Apparently you aren’t an overweight woman. 🙂
apparently, you are.
Apparently you don’t like the truth.
Love your comment it’s the truth. You’d make a good friend. No I’m not fat either😉
I have a little around the middle
So you’re saying Thelonious Mac really is your name then. 🙂
Uh no, and that a less than intelligent supposition.
Some of those are SO hard to do. Especially face to face.
My doctor told me I was fat. I said I’d like a second opinion. He said, “Okay, you’re ugly too.” (thanks Rodney)
First brilliancy prize for Thelonious Mac. Inspired me to think of a few more, all of which were a howl and all of which I had to scrap. BTW the verb is clothe, don’t hate the spelling policia
Cloth vs clothe, you’re definitely correct but I’ve given up being completely accurate on tiny itty bitty keyboards. I swear that e was there but it clearly wasn’t.
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” – Mark Twain
Even remembering “the truth” is difficult. That is why so many court witnesses get it wrong. Mark Twain himself certainly spoke creatively on occasion so he was not necessarily saying to always speak “truth” — whatever that really is. “Truth” is often in the eye of the beholder. That, too, is why witnesses to the same accident will come away with different versions of it.
Those who insist on everyone telling “the truth” don’t really mean it. “Truth” has been overrated. Thelonious gives examples. It is often damaging and hurtful to people to tell “truth.” Every time some starts by saying, “I have to tell the truth…” what they mean is that they are trying to justify saying something hurtful. And it’s not even the actual truth in the first place.
There is a difference between “telling the truth,” which is not always a good thing, and being a trusted person of good character. That is a good thing. In fact, a good person will not always tell the truth (“You don’t just look ugly today, you’re always ugly!). People need to stop throwing this “truth” thing in each other’s faces when that’s not actually what we want to see.
Government hiding certain things is a different level of non-truth though. There are times when we correctly expect and demand truth. But a blanket statement applying to ALL people at ALL times is simply wrong. It can be unnecessarily hurtful, damaging, and even dangerous. Good people of good character simply don’t engage in that.
I agree. Just watch “The Invention if Lying” to see a world where unmitigated truth makes things a royal mess. 😉
People often don’t think through the implications of what they wish for. While I’d appreciate a world with less devious dishonesty, a world where everyone told “the truth” all the time would be unmanageable.
…and do we really need an app that’s going to tell someone who’s feeling down, that, when said they look nice, we’re really lying? Or that will force us to tell our kids – or others – things that they really shouldn’t know? Is that not an intrusion into our privacy?
Some things really should be kept in confidence. A “secret” is not a bad word. A “secret” is not even a bad thing. Secrets are a necessary part of life and should be respected, not demeaned. (Yes, there are exceptions.)
On the other hand, certain secrets that potentially intrude in our lives, potentially damaging us or others, need to be carefully examined, especially when the secret-keeper is our own government.
And does this app say ‘cheer up its not the end of the World’ though I suppose it’s when it says it is the end of the World you really have to worry.
If you and I have a conversation, there is what I believe to be the truth, what you believe to be the truth, and the truth. The absolute truth exists independently of our minds. It is true whether we believe it or not, and it is true whether we exist or not.
When you sit down and think about it, it is really bizarre how infrequently we know the absolute truth, or even allow ourselves to know it.
Outside of my actual experiences, I only know what I’ve been shown or told by someone else. Even my own experiences are tainted by beliefs and opinions. Did the cop kill the belligerent thug or did the cop murder the disenfranchised black teen?
It seems to me that the truth doesn’t have a large vocabulary.
You are, of course, correct, Mr. T. Mac. After all, how do any of us actually know anything? How do we even know we exist? Hmmm. Well, let me see. I think…therefore, I am. Ah, yes. I think I can start there…
You, Descartes, and many others have the order reversed: You must first exist before you can think. Existence must first exist, in order for you to be able to perceive it and think about it.
But you, Mr. Exists, cannot prove you exist simply by saying that you exist. You assume a fact not in evidence. No one has the order reversed. You cannot determine you exist at all without thinking about that very issue. Take some basic philosophy course sometime, from a competent instructor. You’ll have a good chance to learn something — if can think first.
This could soon force every analist out of business. No one would believe them and we’d be back to normality again.
No, they would not be affected because their forecasts don’t represent facts, which are true or false, but rather chains of inference, which are wholly contingent
“politics is in for a major overhaul”? Meh. I was hoping more for journalism..
The only problem is that sociopaths can lie or tell the truth, without any difference in expression or behavior.
Is it possible for a sociopath to be a politician or used car salesman? Of course!
That is a solid point. So, all this tech would really be doing is eliminate the amateur liars from political ranks and replace them with even worse sociopathic scoundrels. Not too sure tech is our friend with that scenario.
Hear hear !!!!!
You are brilliant yet subversive, a quality i try to embody
I like the phrases you come up with, i collect such things
Helpful Hint #1: Do not place a chameleon on plaid, it will explode.
Helpful Hint #2: Do not place an iPhone near Obola, it will explode too.
“Obola”???
Wow you are soo mature. Name calling! Very impressive.
…and his lovely wife, Assquatch,
thanks.
I love it!
Helpful Hint #3: Do not place a chameleon on an iPhone near Obola while he is wearing plaid. They’ll all explode.
hahaha, el touché! very good.
I can’t believe the Secret Service hasn’t knocked on your door yet.
Why, is Oblahblah attacking opponents with the secret service now that his IRS has been caught red-handed?
Obama. Worst U.S. President ever.
Biggest step forward for U.S. Blacks ends up being a big step backwards. Ironic.
Happy midterms everyone!
You believe anything apparently.
If you’re FaceTiming with somebody it would be cool if it made your nose grow.
Then everyone could be given the name Pinnochio
Helpful Hint #4: Do not post any articles about Apple. A bunch of dick-heads will post irrelevant political comments.
yeah, but at least we are registered dickheads.
So being a “registered” dickhead under a pseudonym is wonderful because…….?
Being a “registered” dickhead makes posting irrelevant political comments better because……?
Being “registered” makes being a dickhead better because…….?
because it’s fun!
Trolling is fun?
In other words, botvinnik, you are openly admitting you are a sociopath. Nice.
no, that’s not in other words, those are your words.
They are irrelevant posts pertaining to an irrelevant President. So up yours sonny.
“You can’t handle the truth!!”
I’d say this article about the potential for deception is a little misleading.
I see what you did there! Well played
Yea, there’s an app for that. And a counter app for that, and a counter to counter the counter app for that . . .
So, you buy an app that the manufacture says can tell if your friend is lying. How to you know the manufacture is telling the truth?
Step 1. Man buys iPhone, uses App to tell if wife is lying.
Step 2. Man accuses wife of cheating, using app decides she’s lying.
Step 3. Man kills wife in a fit of rage.
Step 4. News reports “Man uses iPhone to kill wife.”
Facebook will buy up one of these technology-demonstration apps and FINALLY dog lovers will have the proof they’ve been seeking for years that cats do not love their owners.
Scientists have known for years that cats don’t love their owners, but regard them as sort of ungainly uber-cats, tolerated only as convenient sources of food and other resources. And no, tabby dropping a dead mouse at your feet isn’t a loving reward to you. She’s trying to freak you out.
You don’t need a smart phone to tell if a politician is lying. You just need to determine if their lips are moving. It’s a dead give a way.
To quote Mammy Yokum: there ain’t no Jack S. like our Jack S. (as best as I remember it)
The truth is it is all lies. No one ever really tells the truth. They are always joking.
I have a boss who has a facial give away when he is lying. I don’t need an app to tell me that. All I need to do is to look at his mouth: if his lips are moving, he’s lying.
I would tell the truth all the time, but I like the bed better than the couch.
I’d put a wink face or /S here, but that wouldn’t be telling the truth.
If only we were able to incorporate the technology in posting comments.
That would take all the fun out of posting.
No fun, no posting.
No posting, no MDN.
No MDN, no more damn Ads all over the page.
No damn Ads, no fun.
It’s a vicious circle.
What is better fun than telling the truth and thought to be lying.
Riding a motorcycle, maybe?
Riding a 1959 Lambretta Series two to be more precise
I foresee all politicians dumping their iphones for samsungs.
An iPhone that can tell if you’re lying?
This must be why Obama has a Blackberry.