Systems, methods, devices and apparatuses for detecting facial expression

An avatar rendering system for rendering a facial expression of a user, comprising:

• an apparatus comprising a plurality of EMG (electromyography) electrodes configured for contact with a face of said user;
• and
• a computational device configured with instructions operating thereon to cause the computational device to:
• process a plurality of EMG signals received from said EMG electrodes to form processed EMG signals;
• classify a facial expression according to said processed EMG using a classifier;
• blend a classified facial expression with a basic avatar shape to form a blended avatar;
• and
• render said blended avatar.