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What is it that differentiates humans from computers? Most would say that the difference is in our ability to be self-aware, whereas computers are merely machines that operate as coded. I’m not entirely convinced of this answer however, nor is Colorado State University (CSU). The real difference between the two is in our various interactions with them. With a computer, we’re limited by our typing and verbal responses. Humans, however, interact via gestures, body language, and facial expressions.
Which is why DARPA has recently awarded CSU a $2.1 million grant to develop new and improved technologies that’ll enhance human-computer interaction based on those adhered to between humans in general.
“Current human-computer interfaces are still severely limited. First, they provide essentially one-way communication: users tell the computer what to do. This was fine when computers were crude tools, but more and more, computers are becoming our partners and assistants in complex tasks. Communication with computers needs to become a two-way dialogue.”
– Bruce Draper, CSU Prof. of Computer Science
CSU’s project, titled “Communication Through Gestures, Expression and Shared Perception,” is being led by Professor Bruce Draper. Their goal is in developing an entire library of what they call Elementary Composable Ideas (ECI), which would essentially be packets of information for computers to recognize. These packets would contain information about human gestures, facial expressions, and body language, which would then be relayed via a Microsoft Kinect interface.
In doing so, they hope to develop newer technologies that’ll allow two-way communication between humans and computers, similar to how humans communicate with one another. And with DARPA’s recent funding, these researchers could very well succeed.
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS
DARPA isn’t new to envisioning the future which completely redefines our understanding of what it means to be human. And with their more recent venture to enhance our means of communication with computers, with their aptly named “Communicating with Computers” program, we could very well be witnessing the birth of new forms of biological computing. DARPA and CSU aren’t just developing new ways of communicating with computers, but are subsequently developing future relationships between the two – a relationship which relies on instinctual body language, gesture, and facial expression.
One could easily correlate this with the infamous film Minority Report, which introduced us to a future of Biocomputing that required both gesture and emotional control. Rather than typing or making audio commands, agents in the film used both their mind and bodily gestures to increase the speed of computing instead. Though, unlike the Minority Report, this future of computing will go beyond gesture commands, but will encapsulate an entire range of human-based communication skills.
Imagine having a computer which not only speaks to you and has entire conversations with you, but can equally figure out when you’re sad, angry, or tired. Where a computer recognizes your bodily expressions and responds in accordance to what they represent. We’re not just talking about a future where humans are able to communicate with computers much more easily, but are equally talking about a future where computers become more adept to the human condition – the awakening of humanity from within the machine.
Photo Credit: Minority Report
About the author
B.J. Murphy is the Editor and Social Media Manager of Serious Wonder. He is a futurist, philosopher, activist, author and poet. B.J. is an Affiliate Scholar for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and an Ambassador for the robotics company Humai.
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