Imagine a computer knowing a person better than they know themselves.
A recent study from the University of Cambridge and Stanford University shows that computers can determine a subject’s personality just as accurately or even better than their family or friends.
The study was based on online personality questionnaires, which were completed by computer users, while also examining each user’s Facebook likes. The online research was then compared to the personality questionnaires completed by the user’s family and friends based on personality.
According to the study, the computer deciphered a subject’s personality more accurately than family or friends did.
Which brings up the question, how much do we want our computers to know about us?
Various science fiction films play with the idea that computers could one day develop human emotions, and connect with humans in a larger capacity. One example is the futuristic film “Her,” in which everyone in society talks to their computer on their earpiece.
While technology is still far from that reality, do we really want computers to know us better than people do?
People use computers for different purposes, whether it’s for personal or business use, but it seems as if people are spending more time on their computers “socializing” than actually socializing in the real world.
In this day and age, a person can’t go anywhere without noticing others looking at their cell phone while sharing a meal with loved ones.
A lot of positive things have and will continue to come from computers, including the Internet, which allows people to keep up with what’s going on in the world, provides the convenience of shopping without going to the store or finding one’s soul mate without visiting the local bar.
Regardless of how attached people become to computers in the future, society must not forget that no amount of technology can fill the void of human connection.