Technology now allows us to read facial expressions and
identify which of the seven universal emotions a person is feeling: fear,
anger, joy, sadness, disgust, surprise, or suspicion. This is very useful in
video game development, medicine, marketing, and, perhaps less obviously, in
driver safety. We know that in addition to fatigue, the emotional state of the
driver is a risk factor. Irritation, in particular, can make drivers more
aggressive and less attentive. EPFL researchers, in collaboration with PSA
Peugeot Citroën, have developed an on-board emotion detector based on the
analysis of facial expressions. Tests carried out using a prototype indicate
that the idea could have promising applications.