Peering Into the Soul: The Rise of Emotion-Reading Smart Glasses and Their Impact on Privacy and Self-Understanding

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Innovative Eyewear to Monitor Your Feelings and Dietary Habits

What's your mood like at the moment? Ideally, it's positive. However, think back to your emotional state a couple of Tuesdays back – recalling that might not be as straightforward. Wouldn't it be great if there was a technology designed to remember these details for us?

Emteq Labs has introduced its innovative concept for a novel kind of intelligent eyewear—glasses that focus on the user's internal expressions rather than the external environment. Named Sense, these glasses are equipped with a variety of sensors embedded within them, which, according to the company, can track the user's facial movements in real-time to identify their emotional state. Sensors positioned along the upper part of the frame capture movements of the eyes and eyebrows, while those placed on the lower edge are capable of recognizing movements of the cheeks and jaw. By capturing these nuanced facial movements, whether it's a smile, a frown, or even the act of chewing, the glasses aim to provide insights into the wearer's emotions.

Charles Nduka serves as the chief science officer at Emteq and is recognized for his expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery within the UK. His research primarily deals with the facial muscles, especially targeting individuals suffering from facial paralysis or similar nerve impairments. Nduka shares that his drive behind developing the Sense glasses stems from his desire to assist individuals in regaining the ability to express themselves through facial movements.

"Nduka began by creating technology aimed at assisting patients in their recovery," he explains, "before realizing that there were broader possibilities to aid a larger number of individuals."

The Sixth Sense

Currently, the Sense eyewear has not hit the market, and there's no specified launch timeline. The firm has announced plans to roll out a development kit to its business collaborators in December. A skeptical person might suggest that Emteq's declaration today is aimed at generating media buzz—such as, for instance, this piece—in hopes of attracting attention from major technology companies (hint, Meta) or perhaps another (cough, Apple).

Indeed, Emteq is not the only player in the field of emotion detection. Firms such as Hume are delving into understanding feelings through indicators such as vocal tone. Meanwhile, chatbots have become adept at evoking a wide range of emotional responses from individuals, sometimes with positive and other times with negative outcomes.

Steen Strand, who previously led the hardware division at Snap, now serves as the CEO of Emteq. With experience in developing camera-integrated glasses through Snap’s Spectacles, he's well-versed in the technology. According to Strand, Emteq aims to target two primary applications with its Sense glasses: supporting mental well-being and assisting in managing diet.

"Essentially, our focus is on data collection," Strand explains. "What's unique is that these glasses are designed to observe inward, rather than outward. We're analyzing the activity on your face to gather a wealth of insightful data. This includes insights into your emotional health, eating and dietary patterns, concentration levels, attention span, potential medical uses, and neurological aspects."

Emteq has announced a collaboration with an undisclosed diet and weight management firm, highlighting an immediate application for their technology. The Sense glasses are designed to monitor your dietary intake through a dual approach: an outward-facing camera captures images of your meals, while embedded sensors are capable of recognizing the act of chewing. If the glasses observe that you're eating too rapidly, as measured by the rate of your chewing, they will prompt a warning. This alert indicates that such eating speeds are often associated with overeating, potentially leading to consuming more than planned. By integrating these alerts with records of your emotional state at the time, Emteq aims to provide insights into what lifestyle habits are beneficial for you and which are not.

Nduka points out that our capacity for management is tied to our ability to quantify aspects such as finances or velocity. However, he highlights a significant gap in our measuring capabilities when it comes to quality. According to him, quality is intrinsically linked to emotions, which are best understood through expressions, an area where our measurement tools fall short.

AI Perception

For years, the question of whether artificial intelligence can genuinely understand human emotions has lingered, with the consensus often being that it's unlikely. This skepticism persists despite the presence of sophisticated cameras and intelligent algorithms, as interpreting emotions remains a complex task.

"Assessing feelings based on facial expressions is somewhat contentious," states Andrew McStay, who is both a professor and the head of the Emotional AI Lab at Bangor University in the United Kingdom. McStay argues that regardless of the company's efforts to refine the sensor-collected data through AI to enhance its applicability, he remains skeptical about its capability to accurately interpret emotions. "In my view, there are intrinsic issues and significant challenges with this approach," he explains.

Diverse cultural backgrounds influence the way individuals express emotions. A smile, for instance, could signify friendliness or happiness to some, but for others, it may be a manifestation of anxiety or fright. Such emotional cues can differ greatly across various cultures. Additionally, the way emotions are manifested facially can change based on neurodiversity. Emteq aims to assist people who are neurodivergent in managing potentially uncomfortable social situations.

Strand mentions that Emteq is making efforts to consider a variety of aspects, which is why they are continuously seeking additional data. Emteq is also firm in its stance that its applications will be thoroughly examined and monitored by medical professionals. The concept is for the technology to be utilized by therapists, physicians, or nutritional advisors, guaranteeing that the information gathered directly from your facial expressions is not misused for malicious intents.

Strand emphasizes the importance of careful communication, highlighting the role of specialists in the process. "Currently, experts play a crucial role," he notes. "The information remains critical as it enables the evaluator to provide sound counsel. The focus then shifts to the nature of the advice and its suitability for the individual at their specific stage. This is particularly crucial in the context of mental health."

Strand imagines a scenario in which, during therapy appointments, rather than having a patient start from scratch by discussing moments of stress or anxiety, the therapist could already possess a summary of the patient's emotional well-being from the previous week. This would allow the therapist to identify and ask about specific issues directly.

Myopia in Vision

No matter the quality of Emteq's innovative glasses, they face tough competition from established giants in the market who offer wearable technology with a broader range of applications. Consumers may be hesitant to opt for a somewhat large pair of glasses if their sole functions are facial scanning and analyzing what you eat. It's quite plausible to think that these inward-looking sensors could be integrated into a more sophisticated product, such as Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses.

"McStay notes that this approach is typical for these sorts of items. Initially, they're introduced with a focus on health benefits, but soon after, they evolve into entities that are more heavily centered around marketing strategies."

Avijit Ghosh, who works in applied policy research at the AI firm Hugging Face, highlights various methods through which authorities exploit unique entry points into individuals' personal affairs. In nations such as Egypt, for instance, there are instances where the government has penetrated platforms like Grindr to detain individuals based on their sexual orientation. It's conceivable to envision the grim scenarios that might unfold if malevolent forces were to access comprehensive data documenting individuals' emotions.

Ghosh questions, "What's the next step?" He expresses concern over the widespread adoption of emotion detection technologies without addressing their drawbacks or how they might diminish personal autonomy. By imposing a standardized notion of acceptable emotions, he believes, we're heading towards a disastrous outcome.

Nduka acknowledges that he's fully cognizant of the probable outcomes of these stories.

Nduka believes that technology ought to serve as a means of advancement for individuals lacking privilege or advantageous conditions. He acknowledges that while those in a better position might use it to take advantage of others, the overarching narrative of technological development shows it opens doors for people who are otherwise without such opportunities.

The focus on measuring our personal metrics, although beneficial for wellbeing in different contexts, is not without its negative aspects.

"McStay acknowledges the benefits of self-discovery through this method, emphasizing its effectiveness. However, he raises concerns about the implications of adding biometrics to a society already saturated with data and profiling, suggesting it could lead to a significant shift in how we navigate our world."

Jodi Halpern, a specialist in bioethics at the University of California, Berkeley, currently authoring a book on empathy, cautions that even if technology operates as expected, individuals should be mindful of the extent to which they delegate tasks to their devices.

Halpern emphasizes the significance of considering the opportunity cost since we lack the unlimited time and energy necessary to grow in all areas. He advocates for cultivating self-awareness and empathy through personal, thoughtful efforts rather than delegating these aspects of our development to technological aids. These personal growth practices, challenging and earnestly achieved, involve engaging deeply with oneself and embracing one's emotions. They often necessitate periods of solitude and usually a pause from using technology.

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