American corporation and online social media and social networking service Facebook have patented emotion-sensing technology that uses a user’s laptop webcam or smartphone camera when it is not turned on to detect the user’s emotions. Using a sophisticated algorithm the technology is able to determine whether users are happy, sad, depressed or excited (based on their facial movements and expressions) and display Facebook content that is more relevant to user’s current mood. The adjustment in targeted advertising and content would happen in real time as a response to the data received about a user’s current state of mind. It would also prevent irrelevant or upsetting content (any content that the user averts their eyes from) being shown to the user again.
You can read more on the patent here: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2015/0242679.html
The patent for this technology was actually granted in 2015 but Facebook has not currently developed it. Not all patents are precursors to consumer products and technology but they are usually a good indication of future technological focus for companies. Fears over users’ loss of privacy could be one reason why the technology has not been currently launched.
Source: http://bit.ly/2rcXAj1
