Jerk-O-Meter from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is working hard on a product they love to call Jerk-O-Meter. The software application currently under development at the MIT can analyze speech patterns and voice tones to rate people to judge how much engaged the person on the other side of the phone is into the conversation being taking place. Anmol Madan, one of the researchers working on the project believes that the software application would be useful in improving the relationship instead of being a reason to end them.

It might also become a helpful tool for market researchers in telling the alertness of the customer on the other side of the phone. Anmol Madan talked about this innovative product from the MIT Lab: “Think of a situation where you could actually prevent an argument. Just having this device can make people more attentive because they know they’re being monitored.”

The software is nearing its first version completion and it makes use of mathematical algorithms to measure levels of stress and empathy in the voice of the person. Madan added: “It’s an academically proven thing. There are a bunch of academic papers published about this.” The Lab recruited around 20 strangers for the experimentation and monitored the conversation between them to test the software application.

Jerk-O-Meter is just one of the many products under development at the MIT, which can perhaps someday see the commercial release in the market. And it also happens to be an important step in the institute is taking to make cell phones and other communication devices more “socially aware”.