Remote reaction capture and analysis system

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for informing a user about the emotional response of the user to a presentation. Facial expressions of the user are monitored while the user is presented with the presentation. The facial expressions are analyzed to determine an emotion displayed at one or more specific times of the presentation. The user is provided with information about the emotion conveyed by the facial expressions of the user. The user is further provided with an opportunity to take a selected action that corresponds to the emotion conveyed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of presenting information to a user comprising:
 presenting to the user an audio-video presentation via an application on a device having a user interface, said audio-video presentation having at least one marker, said marker corresponding to a time during said presentation selected as a time at which an emotional response is to be evaluated;   monitoring facial expressions of the user while presenting the presentation;   evaluating the facial expressions of the user to determine the strongest emotional response of the user at or until the time of said marker; and   providing a follow-on action to the user if said emotional response meets predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said markers are placed by a client. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined criteria are set by a client. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing a follow-on action comprises changing the content of the presentation during a runtime of the presentation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing a follow-on action to the user comprises providing the user with an opportunity to purchase a product. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing a follow-on action comprises presenting a web page to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising notifying the user of the strongest emotional response of the user at or until the time of said marker. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising providing information about said emotional response to the client. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising aggregating emotional response data from several users and presenting the aggregated emotional response data to a client. 
     
     
         10 . A system for informing a user about the emotional response of the user to a presentation, the system comprising:
 presentation hardware comprising a display and an audio output for presenting to the user a presentation via an application;   a user interface;   monitoring hardware for monitoring facial expressions of the user while presenting the presentation;   an array mapping a plurality of follow-on action options as a function of both specific emotional responses and markers within the video presentation;   a processor connected to the monitoring hardware and adapted to analyze the facial expressions of the user to determine an emotional response conveyed by the facial expressions of the user;   said processor further adapted to correlate the facial expressions of the user conveying the emotional response to one or more of said markers;   said processor further selecting from the array a selected follow-on action and to provide the selected follow-on action to the user via said presentation hardware.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a client user interface via which a client provides said markers. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said client user interface is further adapted to allow the client to provide said predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said selected follow-on action comprises changing the content of the presentation during a runtime of the presentation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said selected follow-on action comprises providing the user with an opportunity to purchase a product. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said selected follow-on action comprises presenting a web page to the user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said processor is further adapted to aggregate emotional response data from several users and to provide the aggregated emotional response data to a client. 
     
     
         17 . A method of presenting information comprising:
 presenting to the user an audio-video presentation via an application on a device having a user interface, said audio-video presentation having at least one marker, said marker corresponding to a time during said presentation selected as a time at which an emotional response is to be evaluated and being placed within a runtime of the presentation by a client;   monitoring facial expressions of the user while presenting the presentation;   evaluating the facial expressions of the user to determine the strongest emotional response of the user at or until the time of said marker;   providing a follow-on action to the user if said emotional response meets predetermined criteria chosen by a client; and   providing information about said emotional response to said client.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein providing a follow-on action comprises changing the content of the presentation during a runtime of the presentation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein providing a follow-on action to the user comprises providing the user with an opportunity to purchase a product. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein providing a follow-on action comprises presenting a web page to the user.