Tech is always straddling that fine line between helpful and terrifying. And this pitch about a new product at CES, called Intelligent Video, is solidly on that line.
According to the social video communications company putting it out, ooVoo, Intelligent Video is a “platform that measures emotion and provides the most engaging user experience by capturing in real time how people feel through their gestures, facial movements and expressions.”
Yikes.
So, one of the most wonderful skills we can develop as humans is emotional intelligence, the ability to read others, gauge their reactions and thoughts, and respond accordingly. This sounds like it does that for you.
You can try it out at CES. Demos will include, according to ooVoo:
- Flinch (Gaming app for iOS, app detecs who cracks a smile first; Affectiva partnership and SDK)
- What You’ll Say Next (predictive messaging based on emotion through Affectiva SDK over ooVoo video chat)
- Avatar Chat (facial coding to create virtual avatar over ooVoo video chat; partnership with Faceshift)
- Background Replacement (depth camera; partnership with Intel)
ooVoo says in its release that Intelligent Video will help us develop more “authentic and nuanced personal and business communications,” which will allow for more intimate and in-depth relationships. Perhaps I just see it as allowing the machines to do all the work for us, and giving corporations more information and control.
But I’m intrigued. Terrified, but intrigued.
