Computers That Know How You Feel Will Soon Be Everywhere

SOMETIME NEXT SUMMER, you’ll be able to watch a horror series that is exactly as scary as you want it to be—no more, no less. You’ll pull up the show, which relies on software from the artificial intelligence startup Affectiva, and tap a button to opt in. Then, while you stare at your iPad, its camera will stare at you.

The software will read your emotional reactions to the show in real time. Should your mouth turn down a second too long or your eyes squeeze shut in fright, the plot will speed along. But if they grow large and hold your interest, the program will draw out the suspense. “Yes, the killing is going to happen, but whether you want to be kept in the tension depends on you,” says Julian McCrea, founder of the London-based studio Portal Entertainment, which has a development deal with a large unidentified entertainment network to produce the series. He calls Affectiva’s face-reading software, Affdex, “an incredible piece of technology.”

McCrea is one of the first outside developers to experiment with Affectiva’s developer tools to make technology capable of interpreting feelings based on tracking your facial expression. Scientists Roz Picard and Rana el Kaliouby spun the Waltham, Massachusetts-based tech startup out of MIT Media Lab in 2009. Picard has since left the company, but El Kaliouby, 36, remains the chief science officer and is committed to a bigger vision: “Personally, I’m not going to stop until this tech is embedded in all of our lives.” Already, CBS has used it to determine how new shows might go down with viewers. And during the 2012 Presidential election, Kaliouby’s team experimented with using it to track a sample of voters during a debate.

With $20 million in venture funding, the company has so far worked closely with a few partners to test its commercial applications. Now it plans to open its tools to everyone. Starting today, Affectiva will invite developers to experiment with a 45-day free test and then license its tools. You remember Intel inside? El Kaliouby envisions “Affectiva-embedded” technology, saying, “It’ll sit on your phone, in your car, in your fridge. It will sense your emotions and adapt seamlessly without being in your face.” It will just notice everything that’s happening on your face. She’ll expand on her strategy May 19 at the LDV Vision Summit, a coming together of some of the smartest companies cracking the problem of machine vision, in New York.

Millions of Faces

El Kaliouby has a PhD in computer science from Cambridge University, completed a post-doc at MIT Media Lab, and built Affectiva’s core technology as part of her academic work, intending to use it to help children with autism. “As I was doing that we started getting a lot of interest from industry,” says el Kaliouby. “The autism research was limited in scope,” she explained, so she turned to the business world to have a greater impact.

Affdex, the company’s signature software, builds detailed models of the face, taking into account the crinkle of the skin around the eye when you smile or the dip in the corner of your bottom lip when you frown. Since el Kaliouby started working on the Affectiva algorithms, the software has logged 11 billion of these data points, taken from 2.8 million faces in 75 countries.

With its massive data set, el Kaliouby believes Affectiva has developed an accurate read on human emotions. The software can, in effect, decode feelings. Consider Affectiva’s take on tracking empathy: “An example would be the inner eyebrow rise,” says el Kaliouby. “Like when you see a cute puppy and you’re, like, awww!” It can even note when you are paying attention.

The software relies on a so-called Facial Action Coding System, a taxonomy of 46 human facial movements that can be combined in different arrays to identify and label emotions. When it was developed in the late 1970s, humans scored emotional states manually by watching the movement of facial muscles. It was time intensive. “It takes about five minutes to code one minute of video,” says el Kaliouby. “So we built algorithms that automate it.” The software had to be trained to recognize variety in expressions. My smirk, for example, might not look like your smirk. “It’s like training a kid to recognize what an apple is,” el Kaliouby says.

Smile!

Five years in, the technology has become robust enough to be reliably useful. Experience designer Steve McLean, for example, who runs the Wisconsin design firm Wild Blue Technologies, has used Affectiva to build a video display for Hershey to use in retail stores. If you smile at the screen, the display dispenses a free chocolate sample. Tech startup OoVoo, which competes with Skype, has integrated the software into its videochat to create a product called intelligent video that can read chatters’ emotions. “We’re looking at focus groups, online education, and political affinity,” says JP Nauseef, managing director of Myrian Capital, which invested in both Affectiva and OoVoo and sits on Affectiva’s board.

But for all of Affectiva’s potential, it will take more than creative developers to help its technology catch on more broadly. “The hidden discussion that hasn’t been brought up is trust,” says Charlene Li, CEO of the research outfit Altimeter Group, who has followed Affectiva closely since 2011. “I love the product, but I’m also terrified by it,” she says. She points out that should this data fall into the wrong hands, it could be dangerous for consumers. What happens, for example, if you are often sad while using a piece of Affectiva-embedded software and the software’s developer chooses to sell that information to a pharmaceutical company?

It’s a concern that el Kaliouby takes very seriously. “We actually don’t store any personal information about the consumers, so we do not have any way of tying back the facial video to an individual,” she says. “We have 2.78 million face videos in the platform, and if your face was in there, none of our team would be able to pull it out for you.”

That may be so, but as the company makes its tools available to a broader set of developers, it will have to monitor how the software is rolled out to prevent them from abusing it—and to make sure that as users interact with it for the first time, they’re aware of it and feel they are in control of the experience.

The technology may be very good at reading your emotions. But humans will have to take care how to act on them.

Original Source: http://www.wired.com/2015/04/computers-can-now-tell-feel-face/

The Necessity Of Computers In Our Everyday Life

Like it or not computers have become more of a necessity than not. Computers are no longer a nonessential piece of equipment in your life. Everywhere you turn computers are present from the office to the gas station life is made easier because of them. They help add to the attractiveness of your office and school presentations as well as increase the accuracy of your banking and tax calculations. In our normal every day routines, computers have done a variety of things for us some that we may even take for granted day to day.

Computer variations are abundant. No matter what form the computer you use comes in one thing is true of all of them; computers are smart, fragile, require care and regular maintenance. We should never take technology for granted; we should never treat the computers we use recklessly. The hardware inside our computer systems can be damaged with improper use. This will affect the performance of your computer. In order to keep your computers running at their best you need to take proper care of them inside and out. Proper maintenance will keep computers, big and small, running at optimal efficiency.

One thing that computer owners can do to ensure their computers are kept running up to par is by covering them. Dust is an enemy of computer systems and can enter through even the tiniest crevices. Once dust settles on computer hardware it can start to cause harm. Dust on the central processing unit causes a weird humming noise that stems from the fan. The computer may not perform well or may end up crashing if too much dust and debris is allowed to build up. Keep your computer covered when you are not using it to prevent dust from building up. Regular maintenance in the form of a computer tune up yearly can help as well.

Prevention is the best way to keep your computer running optimally. This is one of the many reasons that it is best not to eat or drink while using your computer. Laptops and desktops alike are prone to serious damage when exposed to liquids of any kind. Small particles entering the keyboard can also cause damage that will affect the computer negatively. The best practice when it comes to a computer is to avoid drinking and eating while on using your system.

When you regularly maintain your computer it will run smoother. Regularly scan your computer for malware and virus’s. Keeping your anti-virus up to date and run regular scans to prevent malware and viruses from taking hold of the software within your computer. Keeping your computer files protected will help ensure that your computer will not need major computer repairs later on down the road.

These are just a few tips to help you keep your computer running correctly no matter what you use it for in your day to day life.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repairas well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas. You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Common Computer Repair and Maintenance Needs

Our current environment is surrounded with technology.  Computers are everywhere!  Our phones are computers, refrigerators have computers that can order food directly from grocery stores and work places network together so that projects that are being done on one system are shared throughout in real time.  When the technology breaks down productivity slows to a crawl.  This is just one of the many reasons that you need to have an I.T. specialist on speed dial.

Computer repair comes in many forms, from corporate I.T. to residential computer repair; all machines can run into problems.  If your computer system or network is feeling underperforming there are a bunch of things that could be on inside of it.  Below are three of the top computer repair issues that can interfere with your computer’s ability to perform.

The most common issue with computers is that they become infected.  Even when running up to date anti-virus protection on your computer a virus can infect your network.  More and more people are using the World Wide Web.   With that in mind consider the amount of files that are unknowingly downloaded that are infected.  Spyware, malware and computer viruses have been around since the beginning of the computer age.  They are created to destroy and damage files while slowing your system down and violating your privacy.  If you suspect that your computer has been infected it is crucial to get your system in to a computer repair center.  There the virus can be removed; infected files deleted and updated antivirus protection installed.

Another common issue in the world of technology is a computer unit that will not properly boot up. This may be one of the scariest issues to have happen with your computer as retrieving the files stored on the system may not be possible.  The hope when a computer is not booting properly is that your power supply has failed.  This is a best case scenario. Otherwise a bigger issue may be present, one way or another computer failing to boot need to be brought in for repair immediately.

If you find your computer running slowly it is crucial to have the system looked at by a computer repair specialist.  Computers, like cars, need to be maintained and tuned up to keep running properly.  When a system is slow it may mean a number of things.  One thing that often occurs is that several unnecessary programs and tool bars have been unknowingly installed which in turn uses available memory up slowing the system.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Leaving Computer Repairs To The Professionals

After repairing hundreds of computers it is evident that the most common computer issues arise when clueless computer users try to navigate fixing their computer issues on their own.  Many people don’t realize how delicate computer systems are.   When doing repairs on your computer you are basically performing surgery.  Would you ever try to perform surgery on one of your children or pets?  Probably not, right?  The same should be true when it comes to repairing your pc.  Allowing a professional computer technician to work on your computer allows you to be confident that the repairs will be completed correctly.  You also don’t have to worry about other issues occurring from the repairs that are completed.

Here are some tips to keep your computer in tip top shape.

1)      General computer maintenance and yearly tune ups on your system help to prevent major complications and computer repairs later on.  Taking proper care of your machine will help to keep your computer running longer and faster.  Don’t download extra tool bars or allow random pop ups to download software to your computer.  All that does is bog your computer down and possibly infect your system with malware.

2)      It’s called a lap top but that doesn’t mean it should be set on your lap while you are using it.  Using your laptop on a comforter or other cushy surface will restrict air circulation and cause the computer to overheat.  Use the nubs on the base of the computer to place the laptop on a hard surface.  You can purchase special that have a cushy base with a hard top to use especially for when you want to use your lap top in bed.

3)      Another thing that many lap top users do is put their laptop into the carrying case before the computer has completely shut down.  This is hard on your computers hard drive and memory.  Wait until the computer has shut down completely before moving it about and placing it in a bag.

4)      Laptops work best if they are not left plugged in at all times.  Leaving a laptop plugged in at all times diminishes the life of the battery and does not allow it to function as it is intended.  Try taking your computer off the charger at least two to three times a week and use the battery as the only source of power.  This will ensure the computer is being worked in the manner it was intended to and will increase the longevity of the battery life and performance of the system.

5)      Dust is another frequent issue with computers.  This is something that can easily be avoided with yearly tune ups.  If you see that your system is getting a bit bogged down with dirt and dust take it in and have the system tuned up.  Never try to blow the dust out on your own at home.  This can lead to dust clogging up areas that are important within the computer system.

Computer repairs are meant to be accomplished by computer technicians just as surgery is to be performed by surgeons.  Be sure to really understand and know what you are doing before you attempt any computer repairs at home and realize that you are probably causing yourself a bigger headache for the technician who has to fix your repairs later on.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

CPS Continues To Be Committed In Securing Up To Date Security For Clients

Computers Plus Service is committed to providing excellent service and up to date security options in order to provide clients with the best user experience possible.

CPS has recently implemented an Apache web server module that provides a web application firewall engine.  This new system is extremely flexible and robust.  It has been referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife of web application firewalls.”  The system provides critical protection against attacks across a variety of web architecture.  The Core Rule Set provides generic rules that provide protection from vulnerabilities often found in web applications.

We offer a variety of services to our clients from website hosting and design to corporate and residential computer and I.T. services.

Should You Repair Your Computer At Home

When it comes to repairing computers is it safe to make computer repairs on your own?  There are many resources available to assist computer novices with computer services.  It is important to understand when you can tackle a computer challenge on yourself or when a computer repair should be left to the experts.   It is like understanding when you should hire a mechanic or when you can fix the clink the engine is making on your own.  Or when your furnace is in need of maintenance, do you call a repair technician or can you handle fixing the filters on your own?  It is all about knowing when computer repairs are within your abilities verse when you are only going to make a bigger issue trying to repair it on your own.

One of the biggest differences between computers and cars or furnaces is that when you buy parts you are guaranteed to get something that works.  With computers there are programs out there that are set in motion to purely sabotage your efforts and cause havoc to your hard drive.  You want to be sure that you are using the proper tool for the job you are hoping to accomplish.  If you are looking for a program to help clean your computer registry it is important to research online which tools work correctly.

One thing that happens with computer registry clean ups is that you run them and they detect settings that you actually use but mistake them as settings that are no longer important.  Registry cleaners are only as accurate as the technician behind them.  Always verify that you no longer need the entry before you choose to delete it.  You want to delete the entries safely.

Another thing that can be attempted in computer repair is virus removal.  This is a trickier application then most to figure out if you are using a program that is useful or one that is in fact actually downloading more viruses and spyware to your computer.  Again you will want to be sure that you research what programs are the best in virus removal.  Once the process has been completed you will want to install antivirus protection.

There are many things that you will be able to do on your own to repair your computer.  When you think that you have reached a point where you feel like you are in over your head it is important that you know to stop and handed it over to the experts.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Computer Repair Questions Answered

Has your computer been acting strange lately? Whether it is running slow or having trouble loading email it is quite possible you have something deeper going on inside of your computer. When your computer stops working properly it is time to get it in for professional computer repair. The longer you wait, the worse the problem may get or the deeper a virus can become embedded. When selecting a computer repair company it is significant to find out what types of repairs they offer and whether they charge an hourly rate or flat service fee for computer services.

When it comes to computer repair the sooner you get help after having a problem the better. If your computer has become infected with a virus it is possible that it can further damage the internal components if not dealt with immediately. Don’t panic when something goes wrong with your computer. The worst thing you can do when a problem arises is to run tasks, update programs or delete files. What you need to do is instantly shut the computer system down and bring it in for immediate repair.

Below we will answer computer repair questions relating strictly to computer viruses.

What should a computer user do if they suspect that a virus has infected their computer?

As mentioned earlier it is important to shut the computer down and take it in for a professional computer virus removal. After the virus has been removed completely from the system you must install up to date antivirus software. With antivirus protection the computer system is less likely to become infected again. Antivirus protection doesn’t eliminate the possibility of viruses but helps to cut down on the likelihood your computer will become infected. Free antivirus protection is often as equally protective as the paid versions as long as it is frequently updated. Updates on antivirus protection are important to prevent new virus strands from infecting your computer.

What should computer users do to avoid getting a virus?

Not only should computer users install antivirus protection they should be careful about what they open and download. Use a trusted internet browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox. These browsers are well known, popular and trusted in the internet community. When opening emails and downloading attachments be sure you know what you are downloading. Even if you know the sender the attachment could be infected. Hackers are known to get into the email systems and send out infected emails. You are more likely to open something when the email address is from someone you know. Also be careful when downloading tool bars and other tools meant to help your user experience.

What should a computer user do if their computer is getting slow?

Just like your car needs a regular tune up so does your computer. Computers are likely to become bogged down with programs that have been downloaded and installed that are actually not necessary to your user experience. A computer tune up will erase programs that are not in use. If the system is to overloaded and deleting files is not helping speed up the computer it may be necessary that your computer repair specialist do a complete operating system reload. With this the computer will be returned to exactly how it came straight out of the box. You will need to reload any software you use back on to the computer as well as the information on the back up that is needed by the user.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas. You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Tips For Choosing an I.T. Firm To Handle Your Computer Repair Needs

The world today relies on technology.  Without our computers working properly everyday life and business slows down to almost a halt.  This is why it is so important that you are familiar with a local computer repair shop that works to provide services not only to personal computers but also large corporate I.T. networks.  It is important that you find a company that can meet all of your needs no matter the size of your company or personally as a residential client.  It is crucial that the computer repair, I.T. specialists you choose are familiar with all of the following repairs that your network or personal computers may need.

Crucial Computer Repair Services

  • The most common issue with computers today is viruses and malware.  No matter how careful you are no matter what anti-virus protection you have installed your computers and networks are all exposed to hackers that wish to infect not only your computer but also your network.  It is important that you find a company that offers complete computer virus removal services.  Many local companies can remote into your computer and offer this service if you are in a pinch but be sure that you bring your computer in to their service center for a thorough cleaning and tune up.
  • Hardware repairs are the next service that needs to be offered by the I.T. Company you hire.  All repairs including hardware, physical damage and accessory replacements should be provided.  It is possible that your computer may only have some physical damage to face your computer; it is important that they can address this need as well.
  • It is not all about the main computer unit when it comes to I.T. networking.  Computer technicians working on your system also need to know how to work with computer accessories including scanners, printers and other essential parts that need to work with your system.
  • Find a company that offers data recovery and back up as well.  It is so important that all of your data be backed up.  Often times we see that this is not the case where in lies the need for data recovery.  If you have lost data that is irreplaceable you will want to have a professional who is aware of the time sensitivity of your issue and that will begin recovering what they can of your data as soon as possible.
  • Your I.T. professionals should be able to assess all situations including troubleshooting and network errors.  These issues are more complex than most computer repair issues and will need an expert to address them.
  • Maintenance is important when making sure your computer systems and networks are running in top condition.  Find a professional that values computer maintenance more than computer repair.  This will help to save you thousands of I.T. repair dollars in the long run.  Maintaining your computer is as important as maintenance on your car or your health.  Maintenance keeps issues from occurring which is important to avoid any disruptions in service.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.