Emotion estimating method, emotion estimating apparatus, and recording medium storing program

An emotion estimating apparatus comprising:

• a display;
• and
• a processor that:
• acquires first data and second data from a subject, the first data corresponding to physiology data, and the second data corresponding to one of physiology data and non-physiology data and being different from the first data;
• calculates a first value indicating a degree of arousal of the subject based on a difference between a predetermined first reference value and a value indicated by the acquired first data, wherein the predetermined first reference value indicates a value indicated by the physiology data corresponding to an arousal of which degree is 0;
• calculates, using the processor, a second value indicating a degree of valence of the subject based on a comparison result obtained by comparing the acquired second data with a predetermined second reference;
• estimates the emotion of the subject, by using the calculated first value and second value and based on a predetermined association of people's emotions with a degree of arousal and a degree of valence of the people, the predetermined association being pre-stored in a memory;
• and
• controls the display to output an image information indicating the estimated emotion on a display screen of the display,
• wherein the processor further controls the display to output plural images on the display screen, each of the plural images indicating a candidate area which indicates one of a plurality of predetermined areas of a human face, each of the plurality of predetermined areas being used for acquiring a facial expression that is the second data, and the candidate area indicated by each of the plural images being different from other candidate areas;
• and
• wherein the emotion estimating apparatus further includes an input interface that receives an instruction to select one of the plural images,
• wherein, in the acquiring, a feature point included in an area of a face of the subject corresponding to the one of the plurality of predetermined areas of the human face indicated by the selected one of the plural images is acquired as the second data,
• wherein the predetermined second reference value indicates a predetermined reference position of the feature point included in the one of the plurality of predetermined areas of the human face indicated by the selected one of the plural images, and
• wherein, in the calculating of the second value, the second value is calculated by comparing a position of the feature point included in the area of the face of the subject and the predetermined reference position indicated by the predetermined second reference value.

A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer program, the program causing a computer to execute:

• acquiring first data and second data from a subject, the first data corresponding to physiology data, and the second data corresponding to one of physiology data and non-physiology data and being different from the first data;
• calculating a first value indicating a degree of arousal of the subject based on a difference between a predetermined first reference value and a value indicated by the acquired first data, wherein the predetermined first reference value indicates a value indicated by the physiology data corresponding to an arousal of which degree is 0;
• calculating, using the processor, a second value indicating a degree of valence of the subject based on a comparison result obtained by comparing the acquired second data with a predetermined second reference;
• estimating the emotion of the subject, by using the calculated first value and second value and based on a predetermined association of people's emotions with a degree of arousal and a degree of valence of the people, the predetermined association being pre-stored in a memory;
• and
• controlling a display of the computer to output an image information indicating the estimated emotion on a display screen of the display,
• wherein the program further causes the computer to execute:
• controlling the display of the computer to output plural images on the display screen, each of the plural images indicating a candidate area which indicates one of a plurality of predetermined areas of a human face, each of the plurality of predetermined areas being used for acquiring a facial expression that is the second data, and the candidate area indicated by each of the plural images being different from other candidate areas;
• and
• controlling an input interface of the computer to receive an instruction to select one of the plural images,
• wherein, in the acquiring, a feature point included in an area of a face of the subject corresponding to the one of the plurality of predetermined areas of the human face indicated by the selected one of the plural images is acquired as the second data,
• wherein the predetermined second reference value indicates a predetermined reference position of the feature point included in the one of the plurality of predetermined areas of the human face indicated by the selected one of the plural images, and
• wherein, in the calculating of the second value, the second value is calculated by comparing a position of the feature point included in the area of the face of the subject and the predetermined reference position indicated by the predetermined second reference value.