Body language is a powerful thing, allowing us to gauge the tone and intention of a person, often without accompanying words. But is this a skill that is unique to humans, or are computers also capable of being intuitive?
To date, picking up on the subtext of a person’s movements is still not something machines can do, however, researchers at MIT and UC Irvine have developed an algorithm that can observe small actions in videos and string them together, piecing together an idea of what is occurring. Much like grammar helps create and connect ideas into complete thoughts, the algorithm is capable of not only analyzing what actions are taking place, but guessing what movements will come next.
There are a handful of ways that this technology would benefit humans. For example, if could help an athlete practicing his or her form and technique. Researchers also posit that it could be useful in a future where humans and robots are sharing the same workspace and doing similar tasks.
But with any technological advancement comes the question of cost–not money, but privacy. In this case, would the positives outweigh the negatives? In what ways can you envision this tool being helpful for your everyday tasks?
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