"Shrug-detecting" software recognizes your disinterest

Via Engadget

A team of computer vision researchers at the University of Illinois has developed "Shrug-detecting" technology that recognizes the level of confusion or disinterest. The system works by allowing a webcam-equipped computer to pick up on the "relative fast movement of the shoulder toward the face". Researchers hope that the Shrug-detector will soon be complemented with real-time blink, hand-motion and facial expression detectors.

More technical information about the Shrug-detector can be found in this paper (PDF).