A startup called Affectiva has launched a software development kit (SDK) that claims to be able to track the emotions of mobile device users. The SDK can access a device’s camera, video footage or photos to determine the user’s emotional state. ZMZobile development firms and advertisers can then use this information to monitor how apps and ads are affecting users.
“With social networking and geo-location, our devices are enabled to know who we are, where we are and what we’re doing. However, these smart devices are still missing the key element to understanding human sentiment,” stated Stephanie Tilenius, an executive in residence at Kleiner Perkins. “As technology innovators, Affectiva is creating a platform for passive and active emotion-sensing — the next generation of social communication.”
