Computer Scientists Gauge Attractiveness
June 15, 2009
You are working away in your dorm room at CalTech, Kansai Institute of Technology, or the Planck Institute, and it strikes you. An algorithm can determine whether you are cool, a babe magnet, a guy attractor, or just cool. Why let those who major in Economics or Art Appreciation or a cheerleadeer or football quarterback determine what’s in and what’s out in terms of the X factor. An algorithm not those odd popular people can do the job.
The dream, according to a Slashdot post with the title “Microsoft Seeking Hot or Not Patent”, is close to realization. According to the patent publication US20090150203:
Architecture for providing feedback to a viewer and/or contributor on fashion and other personal appearance decisions that the contributor desires. The contributor uploads self images for viewing and rating (or voting) by viewers who choose provide an opinion on different fashion and/or cosmetic looks of the contributor. The contributor takes images show the contributor presented with a number (e.g., two) of different fashion choices. The snapshots can then be processed for upload to a website or other accessible location by one or more viewers. The viewers can cast a vote for one of the images by selecting the desired image, in response to which the viewer and/or contributor will be presented with overall statistics for that set of images as to how other viewers voted, as well as a next set of photos depicting the user in a different fashion and/or cosmetic choice. This process can continue until terminated.
Organizations in the business of judging sex appeal may need to find their future elsewhere. Microsoft’s engineers may be able to peg your animal appeal. I wonder how the method works on addled geese.
Stephen Arnold, June 14, 2009
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