A few years ago, hubby and I were in a museum playing around with “AI” exhibits.
“What is ‘AI’?” you ask.
“AI” stands for Artificial Intelligence … and is basically a computer program which is able to analyze and make assumptions, based on data which has previously been entered into the program.
At the museum, one “AI” exhibit would analyze our faces, then tell us how old it thought we were. This is the photo which is today’s background photo … I was absolutely delighted that the “AI” program thought I was 24 years old! Ha!
Another “AI” exhibit would analyze our faces, then tell us which emotions we were expressing. The exhibit encouraged us to make all kinds of different facial expressions (happy, sad, bored, depressed, excited, surprised, angry, grumpy, tired, etc.) … and then see how the “AI” program did figuring out which emotions were being displayed.
It was a fascinating experience. The “AI” program was astonishingly accurate in recognizing the different emotions expressed through the face.
Did you know that the human face has 53 different muscles! Amazing! Because we have so many different facial muscles, this gives us the ability to express an endless number of different emotions. I had no idea!
Here are a few fascinating facts I learned recently:
(from Inspired Evidence, by Julie Von Vett & Bruce Malone)
* Half of our facial muscles are dedicated to making expressions.
* Humans have very delicate cheek muscles … allowing humans to make many different types of smiles. Contrasted with animals, which have very minimal facial muscles (if any at all), and zero dedicated to making expressions.
* There are many different types of expressions such as smiling, laughing, anger, pain, surprise, and boredom. Each of these expressions, and many more, have varying degrees of intensity. Researchers have found that humans are able to make up to 10,000 different expressions.
* What is even more surprising is the ability of the human brain to discern the subtle differences quickly. Most people have experienced a time when they tried to hide their emotions, but people are very perceptive in detecting the slightest facial expression.
* The ability to make facial expressions is very important in human relationships and communication. As humans, we are constantly observing the facial expressions of others. We were created by God, as image-bearers of God, to be emotional beings … and our facial expressions reveal that design.
Thank you God, for being so good and loving to give us so many different facial muscles … so that we have the ability to express emotion … and are thereby more effectively able to communicate with each other and have relationships with each other!
