A Study on the Effects of Facial Expression Enhancement Using a Movable Ear-Type Device Linked to Eyebrows Using Facial Expression Analysis

Abstract

Nonverbal information can be used to convey emotions. In some cases, we can read emotions from changes in the other person’s facial expressions. However, the facial expression is not transmitted to other people in some cases. To address this issue, a glasses-type device with pseudo eyebrows that change eyebrow’s thickness and angle was used in the previous research to facilitate the transmission of emotions to others. The device is charging type and cannot be used easily and cannot work for one day. In this study, we use “SUGO-MIMI,” a lightweight device that does not require a power source to extend facial expressions by eyebrow movements. The SUGO-MIMI extends the eyebrow movements by connecting the eyebrows to thin plates imitating cat ears attached to the headband with wires and linking the eyebrows’ movement to the plates. The eyebrow movement is extended. Thus, the emotions of joy, anger, and sorrow can be emphasized. As a result of analyzing the facial expressions of the subjects that watch videos of a person who wears the SUGO-MIMI using the Microsoft Face API, we obtained that the SUGO-MIMI can amplify some emotions and that women tended to have more positive impressions of the SUGO-MIMI than men.