Most people can tell if others are mad or irritated by the way they act or look. However, new research from the Brigham Young University suggests that the researchers can identify people's emotions on how they move their computer mouse. Through the use of data points based on the movement and speed of the cursor, lead author Jeffrey Jenkins and colleagues are able to measure how deviations indicate a person's emotional state.
"We utilize attention control theory to explain how mouse cursor movements can be a real-time indicator of negative emotions," Jenkins said. Based on the research the team conducted, when people experience negative emotions, mouse movements become jagged and sudden and no longer follows a straight or smooth movement. And just when people think they move the mouse faster when they feel upset, the response is actually counterintuitive as they tend to move the mouse at a much slower phase.
Researchers aim to help website makers determine what most users find disappointing or frustrating in a web page. With this, they can make necessary changes to eliminate the stressor and offer help.
"Using this technology, websites will no longer be dumb. [They] can go beyond just presenting information, but they can sense you. They can understand not just what you're providing, but what you're feeling," Jenkins said.
Although the project is still in its early phase, researchers claimed that this technology is also applicable in smartphones where swipes and taps instead of mouse movements are detected and measured. This innovation has already been patented and has obtained license to build a company. The latest study will be published in the "MIS Quarterly."
