"Don't be a Jerk"

The Jerk-O-Meter can actually catch you being inattentive or straying from a
conversation. When not under the scanner yourself, you can know whether your
spouse, friend or a co-worker is really paying attention.

Indian American researcher, Anmol Madan is leading a project at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop software for cell phones
that would analyze speech patterns and voice tones to rate people on a scale of
0 to 100 percent, that measures their engagement in a conversation.

For now, the Jerk-O-Meter is set up to monitor the user's end of the
conversation. If his/her attention is straying, a message pops up on the phone
that warns, "Don't be a jerk!" or "Be a little nicer now."
A score closer to 100 percent would prompt, "Wow, you're a smooth
talker." However, the Jerk-O-Meter also could be set up to test the voice
on the other end of the line. Then it could send the tester such reports as:
"This person is acting like a jerk. Do you want to hang up?"

Anmol Madan, who led the project while he pursued a master's degree at MIT,
sees the Jerk-O-Meter as a tool for improving relationships, not ending them. Or
it might assist telephone sales and marketing efforts. "Think of a
situation where you could actually prevent an argument," he said.
"Just having this device can make people more attentive because they know
they're being monitored." The program, which Madan said is nearing
completion, uses mathematical algorithms to measure levels of stress and empathy
in a person's voice. It also keeps track of how often someone is speaking.
"It's an academically proven thing," Madan said of the math behind
those measurements.

The prototype version of the program runs on Linux, on a phone plugged into
Voice Over Internet service. Once the Jerk-O-Meter is completed, in six months
or so, Madan envisions selling it as software that could be downloaded off the
Internet-a potentially useful tool for focus groups, telemarketers and
salesmen.