Is your child feeling sad? Soon their DOLL will be able to tell: Toy can recognise eight emotions simply by looking at a face

  • The doll contains a new chip that can run artificially intelligent algorithms
  • A camera takes pictures of your face and can recognise how you're feeling
  • It does not need an internet connection, which removes many privacy issues 

By Shivali Best For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

It may sound like the stuff of nightmares, but researchers have created a doll that can read emotions.

The doll uses a small camera to capture images of your face, and can recognise eight emotions, including happiness and sadness.

Unlike other smart toys, the doll does not need an internet connection to function, removing many of the privacy concerns surrounding such devices.

Scroll down for video 

It may sound like the stuff of nightmares, but researchers have created a doll that can read your emotions and respond to them. The doll uses a small camera to capture images of your face, and can recognise eight emotions, including happiness and sadness

It may sound like the stuff of nightmares, but researchers have created a doll that can read your emotions and respond to them. The doll uses a small camera to capture images of your face, and can recognise eight emotions, including happiness and sadness

SPY-TOY CONCERNS

The US Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in December that cites a long list of violations by what the organizations are calling 'spy toys.'

This includes a failure to mention privacy on the packaging for My Friend Cayla, and difficulties in locating its Terms of Service.

They also say the toys collect and use personal information, including audio of the children's voices, and could even allow strangers to eavesdrop.

According to the Norwegian Consumer Council, there are several issues with internet-connected toys, including:

-Lack of security

-Illegal user terms

-Kids' secrets are shared

-Kids are subject to hidden marketing

Advertisement

Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Ciudad Real have created a new chip that can run artificially intelligent algorithms, and be used in toys to recognise emotions.

The chip runs on a very small battery, doesn't need an internet connection and only costs £100 to make.

Speaking to New Scientist, Dr Oscar Deniz, who led the study, said: 'In the near future, we will see a myriad of eyes everywhere that will not just be watching us, but trying to help us.

'We will have wearable devices, toys, drones, small robots, and things we can't even imagine yet that will all have basic artificial intelligence.'

Because the chip does not need an internet connection to function, it reduces many of the privacy concerns surrounding smart toys.

In February, parents were told to destroy a smart doll called Mr Friend Cayla, because its technology could reveal personal data.

Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Ciudad Real have created a new chip that can run artificially intelligent algorithms, and be used in toys to recognise emotions

Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Ciudad Real have created a new chip that can run artificially intelligent algorithms, and be used in toys to recognise emotions

Researchers discovered that hackers could use the internet-connected toy to listen and talk to the child playing with it.

David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab said: 'The doll is equipped with a Bluetooth chip to enable it to answer questions through the Internet.

'However, it also asks for sensitive information, such as hometown, parent's and user's name, and school.

In February, parents were told to destroy a smart doll called Cayla, because its technology could reveal personal data

In February, parents were told to destroy a smart doll called Cayla, because its technology could reveal personal data

'Concerns about the doll therefore centre mainly around privacy - the fact that secrets entrusted to the doll by a child could be accessed by a hacker.'

The Spanish researchers are still working on the face-reading doll and it is unclear when it will be available to buy, or how much it will cost.

But in their paper, published in Sensors, the researchers wrote: 'The possibilities are endless if we consider new applications and technologies, such as deep learning, drones, home robotics, intelligent surveillance, intelligent toys, and wearable cameras.'

 

Most watched News videos