Jerk-O-Meter calls out your boredom on the phone
By Barb Dybwad 
posted Aug 12th 2005 7:30AM
posted Aug 12th 2005 7:30AM
Alright, jerkface, the next time your attention starts to flag when we talk on the phone, we're siccing the
Jerk-O-Meter on ya. Researchers at MIT are developing software for cellphones that analyzes speech patterns and voice
tones and rates how engaged you are in the conversation. It measures the levels of stress and empathy in a person's
voice and, when your attention starts to drift, pops up warning messages to the effect of "Don't be a jerk!" or "Be a
little nicer now." For now it's monitoring the user's end of the conversation, but the final version will allow you to
monitor the voice on the other end and finally prove once and for all that your spouse never really listens to
you.
[Thanks, Mike]
June: lol!
If my phone is up against my ear during conversation, how the heck will I SEE the warning messages? :-
TK
TK101,
I think the phone warns you through audio. Like HAL in 2001. "You're getting too loud, Dave."
I also have a meter which measures and analyzes how much attention the person on the other end is paying to the conversation.
It's called MY OWN FUCKING EARS AND THE BRAIN BETWEEN THEM.
I mean come on.
I was hoping that this gadget would never surface the face of the earth. Now we are doomed to listen to women talk....
Yes, a Sarcasm dector, now that's useful !
Ian
Oh no now we have to listen to cunts bitching about shit.
sexism deathwatch: officially off.
hey, it looks like someone is masking to be me - posting spam and also repeatedly clicking ads on my site. I had no idea about this.
I've been told this by my friend that I've been accused for posting spam on engadget, which is in fact this is the very first time I'm here.
anyway, sory for the disturbance. My apology.