Emotion AI in the K-12 classroom
The ability for a classroom teacher to observe each individual student at all times is, for many educators, a ‘pipe-dream.’ The the development of Emotion AI this dream is slowly becoming a reality. With new innovation in this technology teachers may, one day, no longer need to even speak to a student to assess how they are feeling.
What is Emotion AI?
Emotion AI is a method of determining a persons level of engagement and an emotion that they are feeling, at a specific time, by assessing their facial expressions.
How Does Emotion AI Work?
Using video technology and computer vision algorithms Emotion AI focuses upon key landmarks on the face. In order to calculate one’s level of engagement Emotion AI examines an individuals head rotations and eye movements. If ones eyes or head are continuously leading off in random directions it could be determined a learner is not fully engaged (L.b & Gg, 2016). A persons emotional state can be assessed by identifying areas on your face such as, the corners of your mouth, the tip of your nose and the corners of your eyebrows (Affectiva, “Emotion AI Overview”).
Try It Out!
Download the app Emoticon or Image and Emotion Recognizer for your mobile device and try out Emotion AI for yourself for free!
What Companies are Currently Developing Emotion AI?
Affectiva
A spin-out from the MIT Media Lab, Affectiva have developed facial coding to measure emotional responses. They have allowed the technology to be used for market reachers and advertisers in order to determine an individuals response to particular advertising (Downes 2013).
Little Dragon EQ
Aside from marketing firms Affectiva has also provided assistance to the startup company Little Dragon EQ. This ed-tech company has developed an application in which academic tasks are given to a child based on their emotional state. This emotional data is then collected on the student with the intention of developing a system in which they can learn “happily.”
Ntech Lab Ltd
A Russian AI research company that their own Emotion AI algorithms. Ntech Lab Ltd, however, is more well known for its development of the controversial website FindFace. This is a social network that lets a user identify any individual simply by uploading a photograph of the person.
Emotion AI in Action:
Hangzhou No. 11 High School in China has equipped cameras into several of their classrooms that are designed to monitor student engagement and their emotions.
Read the following article to find out more:
Reflections From the K-12 Classroom:
Discuss:
The idea about technology is not about choosing whether to use it or not, but how to use it correctly. Understandably there are many setbacks in regards to the use of Emotion AI in the classroom. Flashes of George Orwell’s book 1984 may run through the heads of many of us.
Is there a possibility that this technology could be used to solely benefit a students learning or would its implementation be doomed for negative ramifications?
Would you be willing to fund a venture whose wish to further develop this technology
