Touchy Feeling and Computers ?

I never expected to do a research addressing emotions, therapy, and social interactions. My background has been dominated by science and technology, and based most on mathematics, concrete theories, equations, logics, and pride that shun the “touching feeling” and arts. For most of my life – I have this thought “emotions are fine for art, entertainment, and certain social interactions, but keep them out of science and technology”. Yeapp, some kind of a turning point has happened. During my graduate research, I’ve watched one of the magnificent works done by the MIT's Personal Robotic Group, Media Lab researchers (especially from Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, in her work on Kismet (Turkish word for "fate") ~ one of the earliest socially interactive robots in the world - her doctoral project). Cynthia has developed this robot to interact with human, socially, which marked the milestone of how sociable machines will be developed in future. It is not a question about how people feel about computers, but something more questionable ~ giving emotional abilities to computers. This will no doubt sounds too much to some people (since we have been relating emotions with negative connotations which are in many cases are justified). Sounds easy ~ computers do not need poor judgment and irrational behaviors.

Left: Cynthia with Kismet
Right: With a better version of Kismet ~ Leonardo.

But, the latest scientific findings indicate that emotions play an essential role in rational decision making, perception and learning. It means “too little emotions can impair decision making process” and too much will do the same. We need to find a delicate balance between these two extremities. Having this ability in computers (or in any digital devices) – will change the paradigm of human-machine interaction in future, rather than focusing computers / machines as a tool, to blend these machines into something in the end that can assist, understand, and help us to perform a better decision. Just bear in mind, not all of these stuffs need emotions. My printer works fine without emotions, but how about a digital therapist that will help patients to monitor their progress? Surely, having a solid and high-end computer alone will not enough. Such machines will benefit from a repertoire of social interactions that similar to our own. Goshhh, I think I’ve spent most of the time here to understand such “touchy-feely” things. Cool (part of me being a psychiatrist now) !
(disclaimer: "mcm2 org sekrg .. mcm2 nak buat")