VIDEO 01 Vocabulary Playout: Can computers understand or display
feelings? BEFORE WATCHING
1 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.
1 What helps us recognise how a person is feeling besides what they say? 2 Do you think a computer could understand if a person is e.g. worried, scared, or pleased?
2 Work in pairs. Take turns to act out a feeling
or a character feature in the box. Your partner has to guess the correct word. WHILE WATCHING
upset anxious exhausted surprised embarrassed 6 Watch the video and answer the questions. stressed in a bad mood 1 Why do computers analyse our body movements? 2 Why can humans decode body language better than 3 Work in pairs. Choose one word from exercise 2 computers? and describe the typical facial expressions or body 3 What does the computer look at when trying to language that help to express it. read the presenter’s mind? 4 How does the computer show our mental state? E�T�N�E� 5 Why might an open-mouthed expression be ������� ambiguous? 4 Match the characteristics (1–6) with their definitions 6 Did the robot express disgust or arrogance? (a–f). Could a computer ever possess any of these human qualities? Why (not)? FOLLOW-UP 1 compassion a a set of standards for good or bad behaviour 7 Complete the summary with the words in the box. Watch the video again in order to check. 2 solidarity b your own opinion of yourself express feelings nod ambiguous university 3 morality c qualities that make a person interaction analyse expressive or thing different from others 4 cultural identity d a shared belief about the group you belong to At Cambridge (1) , scientists are exploring whether 5 individuality e a strong feeling of computers can read human (2) . A computer tries understanding and a wish to to (3) body movements, but concentrates on relieve someone’s suffering the face because this is the most (4) part of the 6 self-image f the mutual support and body. For example, when we (5) and smile at the agreement between people same time, we are showing agreement. However, it is harder in a group to read some expressions because they are (6) . The research also teaches robots to (7) emotions so that we can recognise them. But the demonstration 5 Read the sentences. Can you guess what the words/ showed that (8) between humans and robots is expressions in bold mean? really difficult! 1 This may be able to give a computer clues about how we feel. AFTER WATCHING 2 People can decode body language, but computers have no idea how to do it. 8 Work in groups. Think how computer software 3 Their gestures and facial expressions will help you recognizing human feelings could help understand what they are saying. an organisation work. Follow these steps: 4 A psychologist is supposed to evaluate their mental 1 Choose an organisation, e.g. a security firm, health state. centre, clothes shop, etc. 5 Some of our facial expressions may seem ambiguous. 2 Make a list of tasks that the computer software 6 Yuck! I now understand that look of disgust on your could help with. Remember to add how it could help face. with each task. 3 Present your ideas in the form of a short pitch (50–100 words), which scientists could use when introducing their computer software to the organisation.
