Attentionometry
As I was browsing the list of projects underway at the Fluid Interfaces group at MIT Media Lab, this one caught my interest.
The project is called AttentivU.
AttentivU’s smart glasses allow researchers to measure visual attention and cognitive intention via built-in eye-tracking and brain-sensing technologies.
Attention? Intention? Through a pair of Buddy Holly glasses?
Yes.
The glasses have EEG (electroencephalography) electrodes behind the ears to capture brain activity.
And EOG (electrooculography) electrodes on the bridge of the nose to capture eye movements.
And onboard Bluetooth and Wifi to create a wireless connection to mobile devices, allowing real-time access to the data.
The project team intentionally left out cameras, microphones and PII-recording of any type to protect users' digital privacy.
OK, so these hackers are carefull but, still, do we need these? Does this type of attentionometry create more issues than it solves?
I think there is an opportunity for it.
Project Lead Nataliya Kosmyna says the project’s higher purpose is to use biofeedback to improve wellbeing. For example, by understanding one's tiredness, one can improve productivity and performance, in order to create a better work-life balance.
As a media person, I think of the use case for making better content. For example, improving understandability and memory formation for educational programming. Or heightening or widening emotional impact for entertainment.
These ideas may be difficult in practice because they move toward reader/viewer/listener measurement (vs. self measurement) and involve sharing of data, for example, from cohorts of anonymous individuals.
The wearable form factor has obvious advantages, including the ability to take the device off when not in use. This makes it much less intrusive than wearing a neuro-lab cap. Or getting a device implanted surgically. (What are you thinking, Neurolab?!)
Anyway, it’s a neat project and you can learn more here ...
