Here is everything to know about Affective Computing and its Applications

What is Affective Computing?

Affective Computing is the branch and evolution of systems and devices that detect, interpret, process, and simulate human reactions. It is an incorporative branch that comprises computer science, psychology, and cognitive science.

Affective Computing is otherwise known as Emotion AI, Affective AI, Emotional Intelligence Computing, and Emotional Computing. Moreover, it is an unconventional technique to comprehend human emotions. Therefore, it attains accuracy measures to emotional recognition from visual, text, and auditory sources.

The concept of Affecting Computing was developed from a paper written by MIT’s scholar Rosalind Picard. She is a respected pioneer in the field as she founded and directed the Affective Computing Research Group at MIT Media Lab and various tech startups.

According to Enzo Pasquale Scilingo, University of Pisa, “If human social interplay cannot disregard emotional aspects, Human-Computer interactions need an affective dimension to create realistic and believable scenarios. The recent developments of robotics and AI software have led to new and challenging applications of Affective Computing and Human-Computer interactions, e.g. in computer-assisted technology, arts and entertainment, and human health. Moreover, dedicated affective mediation technologies can be effectively integrated into assistive tools to help disabled people in their daily experience.” 

How is Affective Computing used?

While using Affecting Computing systems, it detects and reacts to the changes comprehending a user’s behaviour and emotions. Furthermore, it collects user data through physical sensors and analyzes the information on the basis of previous experiences and data sets.

Above all, machines, devices, and systems use multiple data sets in order to train machine learning models. Most importantly, deep learning systems perform well when there are additional data sets. As a result, businesses in this space are working towards improving the reach of the data sets and preparing systems accordingly.

Here are the primary categories that describe Emotional Intelligence in Systems:

• Emotional Speech: Algorithms, databases, and speech indicators.

• Facial Affect Detection: Body Gesture, non-verbal reactions, and physiological monitoring.

Benefits of Affective Computing

• Firstly, Affective AI can help businesses to better understand the emotions and reactive states of customers. 
• Further, it will improve the quality of life by helping businesses comprehend and work towards the expectations of the customers.
• It can also help law enforcement bodies to discover and identify individuals that may be unsafe to themselves or others.
• Moreover, affective computing applications benefit businesses, by learning the emotional states of clients, employees, stakeholders, and other associates.
• Furthermore, it can identify emotions automatically. Hence, businesses can offer better solutions for their customers. 
• Above all, it will enable devices to evolve and develop emotional abilities.
• Most importantly, it will detect, treat, and assist the healthcare industries to work with various diseases and disabilities.

Slawomir Nasuto, professor of cybernetics at the University of Reading in the UK, states, “Affective computing is a tool–and any tool can be used for either good or nefarious purposes. What is specific here is the pervasiveness of affective computing via online connectivity and the emergence of cheaper and more networked sensing technologies. Together, they will open the way for the collection of unprecedented volumes of data on the human state.”

Here are the Top Inferences and Applications of Affective Computing:

Affective Computing Applications in Healthcare

Affective Computing helps healthcare providers personalize treatment and recovery plans for patients. Moreover, it can also contribute immensely towards mental health and psychological fields. 

There can also be bots that help patients with reminders and alerts for medications and appointments. Hence healthcare professionals can look after the physical and mental well-being of the patients.

Further, it can leverage voice analysis to assist doctors in order to diagnose diseases. Above all, Emotion AI uses counseling sessions to detect and comprehend mental states efficiently.

Applications of Affective Computing in Marketing

Marketing is a field of business that works on emotions. Moreover, it represents the organizations’ agendas before customers, stakeholders, and other associates.

A research report by Temkin Group states that users are 7.1 times more likely to purchase and invest in products when people associate with them positively. Hence, businesses are anchoring Emotion AI to grasp their customers' reactions.

Consequently, marketers can leverage it to generate more effective marketing campaigns. As a result, this can help businesses influence users and convey messages better.

Affective Computing Applications in Online Education

The pandemic has rendered individuals to procure their education online. Hence, it is pivotal to identify the emotional responses of these individuals that impact online Education.

It also assesses the satisfaction or frustration of pupils with the lessons and learnings. Therefore, professors can adapt to different learning styles and comforts.

Applications of Affective Computing in Human Resources

Businesses certainly function well because of the human sources involved. Moreover, companies like Unilever, Dunkin Donuts, and IBM use emotional recognition technology.

A report in Financial Times, states that in 2019 Unilever saved more than 50,000 HR work hours. Further, recruiters use Affective AI to work with extensive recruitment activities.

Above all, efficient training for employees that interact directly with customers takes place. As a result, employees learn with real-life interactions and scenarios that work with various responses and emotions.

Affective Computing Applications in Gaming, Movies, and Entertainment

When it comes to gaming, movies, and entertainment consumers all have various categories to choose from. Hence, companies are now working with various techniques to enhance user experiences.

Moreover, applications of Affective Computing in the entertainment industry leverages computer vision. Therefore, it helps businesses identify user’s facial expressions and can help adapt to their preferences.

Applications of Affective Computing by Governments

Governments of various countries can leverage Emotion AI to monitor and measure the population’s response to various policies. Moreover, political parties can utilize Affective AI to customize and personalize messages in their campaigns.

Furthermore, the advancements in Affective Computing integrate it with surveillance technologies.