Smart Doll: Emotion Recognition Using Embedded Deep Learning

Computer vision and deep learning are clearly demonstrating a capability to create engaging cognitive applications and services. However, these applications have been mostly confined to powerful Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) or the cloud due to their demanding computational requirements. Cloud processing has obvious bandwidth, energy consumption and privacy issues. The Eyes of Things (EoT) is a powerful and versatile embedded computer vision platform which allows the user to develop artificial vision and deep learning applications that analyse images locally. In this article, we use the deep learning capabilities of an EoT device for a real-life facial informatics application: a doll capable of recognizing emotions, using deep learning techniques, and acting accordingly. The main impact and significance of the presented application is in showing that a toy can now do advanced processing locally, without the need of further computation in the cloud, thus reducing latency and removing most of the ethical issues involved. Finally, the performance of the convolutional neural network developed for that purpose is studied and a pilot was conducted on a panel of 12 children aged between four and ten years old to test the doll.