nViso Rolls Out Software to 'Accurately' Interpret Facial Expressions

Swiss startup nViso has launched new facial expression recognition software which it claims accurately detects and decodes facial micro-expressions and eye movements to track consumer emotions.

nViso was founded in 2009 by Matteo Sorci and Tim Llewellynn at the Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland, with funding from The Swiss National Science Foundation. Since then, the firm has developed technologies for deciphering emotions using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Using a standard webcam or similar video equipment, nViso tracks more than 143 different facial points, and relates them to models developed with facial databases.

This stand-alone approach also combines analysis and consumer-emotion consultancy with an SaaS-based system, which provides direct access to emotion data and online reporting.

Sorci and Llewellynn specifically developed the methodology to enable marketers to track and understand the emotional effects triggered by products and brand messages.

It is based on theoretical work by facial expression research psychologist Dr Paul Ekman, which demonstrates that universal emotions are 'precisely and sub-consciously' revealed by minor changes in micro-expressions in the face.

Llewellynn states: 'Armed with understanding of consumer emotions and a direct path to the subconscious, the marketing community will have access to emotion metrics that are far more precise than surveys, but without the complexity of monitoring brain waves. nViso's software adds a critical dimension to the marketing process based on exact emotional intelligence gathered in real-time.'

Web site: www.nviso.ch .