Posted 02.10.2012 at 4:25 pm
8 Comments
An App for That
DanielZanetti via Wikimedia
“Siri, how do I feel right now?” Apple’s automated assistant might not be so perceptive as to know, but your smartphone may soon be able to assess your mood and determine if you are suffering from symptoms of depression. Researchers at Northwestern University are creating a kind of virtual therapist called Mobilyze to help people that tend to ignore symptoms of their depression realize that they need to take measures to deal with their moods.
The algorithm-based Mobilyze would rely on a bevy of data--location, social activity, physical activity, what a user is doing, etc.--to determine behavior patterns and recognize if they are behaving normally or seem to be deviating from their normal behavior, particularly in ways that suggest depression. That data will come from sensors and technology already present in most smartphones, like Bluetooth, GPS, gyros, accelerometers, and Wi-Fi.
If the phone determines that a person is acting in a depressed manner, it can provide automated texts to the users’ friends and families or to users themselves, prompting them to call someone or simply to get out of the house and do something. The technology has already been trialled on eight patients, who all showed improvement in dealing with their depression at the end of the treatment. More testing is slated for this summer.
[CNET]
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Oh great! I'm already getting 'advice' ( generally generic cr*p) from my insurance company and others. Now this.
Laugh In, a great TV show, had a skit called robot theater. The actors flailed around, knocking things over and generally being only loosely aware of what they were doing -- I suspect that this app will be much the same.
Also, if the individual HAD family and friends -- perhaps they would notice if he or she was depressed. If they don't, who are you gonna text?
There is not a SINGLE person in America that has a reason to be depressed even homeless people...home less in America is still better off that 70% of the world...this is pathetic...people are pathetic
At: Delkomatic
Money doesn't mean happiness you cum-quat.
It helps to meet basic needs, but human consciousness
needs more than simply food, shelter, water, air.
We have social needs (freinds, family)
We have life goals we want to accomplish
We have hobbies, interests, etc
A whole bunch of stuff that a 30,000$ average salary
wont get you.
Your a moron.
Let me guess, it also automatically gives you a doctor referral for an anti-depressant prescription?
to the guy who said everybody has a reason to be depressed. be happy you're alive right now in some countries you have to be scared about whether or not you're going to be killed by some freaking with doctor!
Big Brother KNOWS how you're feeling
'cause he knows everything about us...'cough' U.S. GOVERNMENT 'cough'
A ridiculous concept, so involved in your technology that you need it to tell you how to feel. Absolutely insane, put down the smart phone and deal with things that actually matter.
Delkomatic, please keep your idealized views to yourself
I guess this could be helpful to a select few, so why not? I just worry that all people will begin to rely to much on their smartphones.