This past week the Internet has been abuzz over the patent Microsoft recently filed for a biometric ”frustration-detecting help system.” In some ways, it would be easy to think of this technology as a much more sophisticated version of it’s annoying “dancing paperclip,” but I would encourage readers to consider how this technology might bolster Mr. Softy’s move into the field of robotics.
Given America’s—and the world’s—aging population I see a positive future for the field of personal service robots over the coming in the near future. (See this post on Toyota’s push into the area.) And these robots will need to be able to serve people in some demanding roles. Voice and speech recognition will be helpful, but if these robots really want to serve their masters they will need to pick up on the nuances of individual behavior. For example, they will need to understand when people want their privacy. Also, if these robots are to meet people’s health needs they will need to discern when people are feeling sick, incapitated or otherwise in need of help. (For example, a robot might discern the early onset of a seizure.)
In other words, Microsoft’s biometric patent not soley in terms of what it might mean for our interactions with computers today; instead “jump the curve” and consider what it will mean when combined with advances in new, emerging fields such as robotics.
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Jack Uldrich is a writer, futurist, public speaker and host of jumpthecurve.net. He is the author of seven books, including Jump the Curve and The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business. He is also a frequent speaker on future technology and future trends, nanotechnology, innovation, change management and executive leadership to a variety of businesses, industries and non-profit organizations and trade associations.
