Never judge a book by its cover: Novel jacket studies your face and will only open if your expression is neutral


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We've all been told you should never judge a book by its cover.

Now one creative agency has found a way to prevent that from ever happening – by creating a cover that judges you.

Amsterdam design studio, Moore, has created a book jacket that will open up when a reader shows no judgement about the novel.

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Amsterdam design studio, Moore, has created a book jacket that will open up when a reader shows no judgement about what they are about the read

Amsterdam design studio, Moore, has created a book jacket that will open up when a reader shows no judgement about what they are about the read

The cover uses an integrated camera and facial recognition system to scan the reader's face, and only unlock the book if the expression is neutral.

Any other expression - even one that shows over excitement - will cause the book to remain firmly locked.

The prototype book, dubbed 'The Cover that Judges You,' is currently filled with creative work for the Art Directors Club Netherlands annual.

According to Dezeen, the camera is placed at the top of the cover, above a screen that sends back the image when it detects a face.

The cover uses an integrated camera and facial recognition system to scan the reader's face, and only unlock the book if the expression is neutral
The cover uses an integrated camera and facial recognition system to scan the reader's face, and only unlock the book if the expression is neutral

The cover uses an integrated camera and facial recognition system to scan the reader's face, and only unlock the book if the expression is neutral

A neutral expression triggers an Arduino micro-controller which unbolt the lock and let the user take a look inside. Pictured is the interior of the cover

A neutral expression triggers an Arduino micro-controller which unbolt the lock and let the user take a look inside. Pictured is the interior of the cover

Artwork featuring abstract facial features is displayed on the cover so that the user can line up their own features in the correct place.

A neutral expression triggers an Arduino micro-controller which unbolt the lock.

'My aim was to create a book cover that is human and approachable hi-tech,' explains designer Thijs Biersteker on his website.

'If you approach the book, if you're overexcited or your face shows a sceptical expression, the book will stay locked.'

'But if your expression is neutral (no judgment) the system will send an audio pulse and the book will unlock itself.

'I often worry about my scepticism and judgement getting in the way of my amazement.

'Judgment should never hinder the relentless enthusiasm of seeing things for the first time.'

Artwork featuring abstract facial features are displayed on the cover so that the user can line up their own features in the correct place. Pictured is a schematic about how the system works

Artwork featuring abstract facial features are displayed on the cover so that the user can line up their own features in the correct place. Pictured is a schematic about how the system works

My aim was to create a book cover that is human and approachable hi-tech,' explains designer Thijs Biersteker on his website. 'If you approach the book, if you're overexcited or your face shows a sceptical expression, the book will stay locked.' Pictured are the team working on the system

My aim was to create a book cover that is human and approachable hi-tech,' explains designer Thijs Biersteker on his website. 'If you approach the book, if you're overexcited or your face shows a sceptical expression, the book will stay locked.' Pictured are the team working on the system

THE SENSORY BOOK THAT LETS YOU FEEL A CHARACTER'S EMOTIONS

Words are all that is needed for a good author to pull at a reader's heart strings.

But researchers at MIT's Media Lab believe readers in a digital age will need more than just sentences to be captivated by a story.

In a project dubbed 'Sensory Fiction', they have created a wearable book that physically makes the reader feel whatever the character is feeling.

As part of the project, the team created a prototype book covered in sensors and actuators and hooked up to a vest. As the plot develops, the book produces physical sensations to mimic the characters' emotions.

If the protagonist is scared, for example, air pressure bags in the wearable vest will constrict to make the reader's chest feel tighter. in the case of sadness, one hundred LED lights on the book cover adjust to create an ambient lighting that reflects the emotion.

For excitement, the vest can vibrate to influence the reader's heart rate by making it beat faster. If a character is embarrassed, a heating device will change the temperature of the skin.



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