Affective Computing

Computers are beginning to acquire the ability to express and recognize affect, and may soon be given the ability to " have emotions. " The essential role of emotion in both human cognition and perception, as demonstrated by recent neurological studies, indicates that affective computers should not only provide better performance in assisting humans, but also might enhance computers' abilities to make decisions. This paper presents and discusses key issues in " affective computing, " computing that relates to, arises from, or influences emotions. Models are suggested for computer recognition of human emotion, and new applications are presented for computer-assisted learning, perceptual information retrieval, arts and entertainment, and human health and interaction. Affective computing, coupled with new wear-able computers, will also provide the ability to gather new data necessary for advances in emotion and cog-nition theory. Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. – Marie Curie Emotions have a stigma in science; they are believed to be inherently non-scientific. Scientific principles are derived from rational thought, logical arguments, testable hypotheses, and repeatable experiments. There is room alongside science for " non-interfering " emotions such as those involved in curiosity, frustration, and the pleasure of discovery. In fact, much scientific research has been prompted by fear. Nonetheless, the role of emotions is marginalized at best. Why bring " emotion " or " affect " into any of the deliberate tools of science? Moreover, shouldn't it be completely avoided when considering properties to design into computers? After all, computers control significant parts of our lives – the phone system, the stock market, nuclear power plants, jet landings, and more. Who wants a computer to be able to " feel angry " at them? To feel contempt for any living thing? In this essay I will submit for discussion a set of ideas on what I call " affective computing, " computing that relates to, arises from, or influences emotions. This will need some further clarification which I shall attempt below. I should say up front that I am not proposing the pursuit of computerized cingulotomies 1 or even into the business of building " emotional computers ". 1 The making of small wounds in the ridge of the limbic system known as the cingulate gyrus, a surgical procedure to aid severely depressed patients. Nor will I propose answers to the difficult and intriguing questions , " …

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