New device can measure happiness

CAMBRIDGE: What if your computer or smartphone could tell if you’re happy or sad?

A new device developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology aims to detect emotions by sending wireless signals that measure heartbeats as the signals bounce off a person’s body.

Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory say their device is 87% accurate in using heart rate to recognise joy, pleasure, sadness or anger, after the device first measures how each individual’s body reacts in various emotional states.

It works like an electrocardiogram monitor but without needing a sensor on the body to measure heartbeats.

They say one day it could be used by advertising agencies to gauge audience reaction or in health care to diagnose depression or anxiety.