Amazon is reportedly working on a wearable device of its own, according to a patent filed by the company.
It is unclear whether the online retail and cloud giant will ever release this product, but from little information we have — it seems that the wearable, together with a companion app, will go beyond fitness and sleep tracking to also include the wearer’s emotional state to the mix. With that information at hand and using some Alexa AI, Amazon’s device will be able to provide helpful suggestions, including — you guessed it — products that could cheer you up. Also, you may be advised to eat something, like chicken soup if the software determines you have a flu.
Said emotion detection will be conducted through sensor data and by speaking to the device, with algorithms reportedly being able to decipher your emotions from the sound of your voice. The end result would be a more personalized gadget that doesn’t feel robotic.
The patent also details how the system will be able to detect emotions like “joy, anger, sorrow, sadness, fear, disgust, boredom, stress, or other emotional states.”
According to anonymous source speaking to Bloomberg, the project — code-named Dylan — is currently in a beta testing program, but it was uncertain if the testing was for the hardware, software, or both.
Beyond wearable device(s), it is almost certain that any technology developed as part of this project will find its way in Echo speakers, eventually helping users get a better grasp on their wellbeing. Mental health uses cases come instantly to mind, though this sort of tech could also be useful for other conditions.
We’ll watch this space carefully and get back to you as soon as there is something new to report.