Experimental artwork explores biological connection between humans and machines
See all news![An image of artwork of man wearing medical probes on head and face.](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/experimental-artwork-explores-biological-connection-between-humans-and-machines-760x459.jpg?la=en&h=459&w=760&mw=847&hash=5BF5132887DA3580853DE26042245242)
Emotion recognition is the process of identifying human emotion. People vary widely in their accuracy at recognising the emotions of others. Emotion tracking using technology is a nascent research area with enormous potential.
Rod Dickinson, Senior Lecturer in Digital Media at UWE Bristol, and Brain Computer Interface (BCI) researcher Nathan Semertzidis of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, worked together to create an extraordinary new artwork and technology experiment, ‘Machine_in_the_middle’, starring World Snooker Champion Steve Davis.
Davis was famous for his deadpan demeanour, never openly expressing any emotion during snooker tournaments and thus earning himself the nickname ‘The Romford Robot’.
In ‘Machine_in_the_middle’, Dickinson and Semertzidis use a BCI headset to stream Davis’ EEG (brainwaves) to an AI that assesses Davis’ emotional state, and then, using Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) the machine animates his face into the expression that it thinks he is experiencing.
Dickinson and Semertzidis’ artwork is based on a well-known type of cyber-attack known as a ‘machine (or man) in the middle’ attack. Usually a “machine (or man)-in-the-middle” attack involves an attacker who secretly intercepts the electronic communication between two parties.
In this case the two parties are the brain and the body of a single person, Steve Davis, and the ‘’machine-in-the-middle’, is the system controlling the communication between Davis' brain and his facial expression.
Rod Dickinson said: “The technology physically manipulates his facial features so it matches the emotion he is experiencing – in effect forcing him so show his emotions.”
The film of Davis was launched at the ‘Decoding Humans: The Quantification of Emotions’ seminar on 30 June.
Related news
![Head and shoulders image of Louise Mitchell wearing a black cap and red graduation ceremony robes](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/louise_mitchell_410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=1C4A93B3D738429FBFC3F839EF0C85AF)
17 July 2024
Chief executive of charity that runs Bristol Beacon receives honorary degree
The chief executive of the charity set up to manage Bristol Beacon, the renowned music venue in the city, has been awarded an honorary degree by UWE Bristol.
![Professor Sir Steve West (left) with Clare Reddington (right), wearing black caps and red gowns at a graduation ceremony](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/clare-reddington-hon-grad-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=CEB303EE9B7D969CC6424B4DE45FB550)
16 July 2024
Watershed chief executive recognised with honorary doctorate from UWE Bristol
The chief executive of one of Bristol’s leading cultural organisations has been awarded an honorary doctorate.
![A man stands in dramatic landscape looking at the camera](/-/media/uwe/images/news/bafta-nyal-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=12018B47E9610E13126E7E5BE616793B)
15 July 2024
Graduate filmmaker wins BAFTA Student Award for documentary
Nyal Mueenuddin, a UWE Bristol graduate, has won a prestigious 2024 Yugo BAFTA Student Award – a global competition which celebrates the next generation of talented and innovative storytellers.
![Photo shows a lady smiling in front of a rack of clothes she's made](/-/media/uwe/images/news/podcast-ach-tetyana-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=EBE1EEF47917F1EE072973B2EAE95501)
08 July 2024
UWE Bristol students share powerful refugee and migrant stories
A new podcast ‘Wisdom from the Global Majority’ tells the stories of both migrants and refugees in Bristol through their own words.
![Someone holds the world in their hands in a pool of water](/-/media/uwe/images/news/climate-theatre-project-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=671411EFE5D11C702F789A85526F61DF)
26 June 2024
Water security and climate action to be explored through theatre with communities
UWE Bristol will support an international research project that will embed theatre practice to work with less heard communities who face water insecurity.
![UWE Bristol student winners celebrate at the awards](/-/media/uwe/images/news/kodak-film-success-2024-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=43347748CE5732C537F624F7995195BC)
05 June 2024
Outstanding success for student filmmakers
Held in London, the third-year students came away with an unprecedented eight awards at the Kodak/Nahemi Student Commercial Awards.
![UWE Bristol student Emily Annakin stands smiling with the Clifton Suspension Bridge behind her with hot air balloons flying in the distance](/-/media/uwe/images/news/showcase-emily-annakin-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=BCBBB446ADE1E74125F4AC8AE3B47B1F)
04 June 2024
Urban places and spaces should be accessible for all, says UWE Bristol student
Student Emily Annakin is hoping to land her dream job, using her own experience of visual impairment to design inclusive urban spaces.
![Photo shows image of Sir Peter Bazalgette](/-/media/uwe/images/news/sir-peter-bazalgette-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=84E0DACB4233CB3451E72D2A635FB830)
24 May 2024
Creative industry leader appointed new Chancellor of UWE Bristol
A leader in the UK’s creative industries, Sir Peter Bazalgette, has been appointed the new Chancellor of UWE Bristol.
![A photographer using an old-fashioned camera to take an photo of Stonehenge, with a backdrop of a blue sky](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/stonehenge-photography-main-image-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=82D3AA342D3552BF0055E5180A7BFE8E)
22 May 2024
Academic retraces footsteps of Victorian photography pioneer behind Led Zeppelin album cover
A UWE Bristol researcher has used old-fashioned photography methods to recreate images by a Victorian photographer noted for taking an iconic photo that became a Led Zeppelin album cover.
![Students Carla Mabb and Kian Swainston, with arts programme manager Donna Baber stand in front of the photography exhibition at the Brunel building](/-/media/uwe/images/news/southmead-photography-students-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=8F7C033B6A1B622CA31C8349566952C4)
10 May 2024
UWE Bristol student photos showcase 10 years of the Brunel building
Striking images have been captured by student photographers for an exhibition marking 10 years since the Brunel building at Southmead Hospital opened.
![UWE Bristol illustration student stands in front of a double decker bus featuring her winning design](/-/media/uwe/images/news/bus-wrap-women-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=8BF20578EE978EA8470162FCD4E953AA)
09 May 2024
Winning bus design by UWE Bristol student
A new bus wrap designed by student Rosalyn Burroughs has been unveiled to mark 80 years since the first female bus drivers were employed in Bristol.
![Student Nikola Asojana's concept for an activist hub 'Ground for Change' which shows a forum space in Bristol where members of the public can meet](/-/media/uwe/images/news/degree-showcase-2024-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=6A8B1AC052C4B2632C530A87AAE04354)
07 May 2024
Graduating students gear up to present their work at annual Showcase
UWE Bristol's Showcase offers visitors the chance to discover a new generation of talent from the College of Arts, Technology and Environment.