The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Apple wants to know if you’re happy or sad as part of its latest software update. Who will this benefit?

  • Written by Peter Koval, Associate Professor of Psychology, The University of Melbourne
Apple wants to know if you’re happy or sad as part of its latest software update. Who will this benefit?

Apple’s iOS 17 operating system is expected to drop[1] any day. The software update comes with several new features, including a tool for daily mood and emotion logging – a technique known to emotion researchers as “experience sampling[2]”.

Although there are caveats, certain mental health studies[3] have shown that regularly recording one’s feelings can be useful. However, given the vast amount of health data Apple already harvests from customers[4], why does it also want to record their subjective feelings? And how helpful might this be for users?

How it works

With the latest software update, Apple’s in-built Health app[5] will allow iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users to record how they feel on a sliding scale from “very unpleasant” to “very pleasant”.

The emotion-tracking tool allows users to move a slider that changes the screen from purple (unpleasant), to blue/green (neutral), to orange (pleasant). Apple

Users will then select from a list of adjectives to label their feelings and indicate which factors – including health, fitness, relationships, work, money and current events – have most influenced how they feel.

The goal is to give users daily and weekly summaries of their feelings, alongside data on factors that may have influenced them. Apple claims this will[6] help users “build emotional awareness and resilience”.

Why does Apple care about our feelings?

Apple already collected copious amounts of health data prior to this update. The iPhone is equipped with an accelerometer, gyroscope[7], light meter, microphone, camera and GPS, while the Apple Watch can also record skin temperature and heart rate. Why does Apple now want users to log how they feel as well?

Driven by a range of potential applications – from fraud detection to enhanced customer experience and personalised marketing - the emotion detection and recognition industry is projected to be worth US$56 billion (A$86.9 billion) by 2024[8]. And Apple is one of[9] numerous technology companies that have invested in trying to detect people’s emotions from sensor recordings.

Read more: Imagine if technology could read and react to our emotions[10]

However, scientists are divided[11] over whether emotions can be inferred from such bodily signals. Research reviews suggest neither facial expressions[12] nor physiological responses[13] can be used to reliably infer what emotions someone is experiencing.

By adding self-report to its methodological toolkit, Apple may be recognising that subjective experience is essential to understanding human emotion[14] and, it seems, abandoning the goal of inferring emotions solely from “objective” data.

The science behind experience sampling

Apple’s new feature allows users to record their feelings “right now” (labelled emotions) or “overall today” (designated moods). Is this a valid distinction?

Although scientific consensus remains elusive, emotions are typically defined as being about something[15]: I am angry at my boss because she rejected my proposal. On the other hand, moods are not consciously tied to specific events[16]: I’m feeling grumpy, but I don’t know why.

Apple’s two reporting methods don’t neatly distinguish emotions from moods, even though they rely on different cognitive processes[17] that can produce divergent estimates of people’s feelings[18].

If the new feature allowed users to independently select both the time frame (momentary or daily) and type of feeling (directed emotion or diffuse mood) being experienced, this could help make users more aware of biases in how they remember feelings. It may even help people identify the often obscure causes of their moods.

Apple’s feeling slider asks people how pleasant or unpleasant they feel. This captures the primary dimension of feeling, known as valence[19], but neglects other essential dimensions[20].

Moreover, scientists debate whether pleasantness and unpleasantness are opposite sides of a continuum, as the feature assumes, or whether they can co-occur as mixed emotions[21]. Measuring pleasant and unpleasant feelings separately would allow users to report mixed feelings, which are common in everyday life[22].

Some research also suggests knowing how pleasant and unpleasant someone is feeling can be used to infer the second fundamental dimension of their feelings[23], namely their level of arousal[24] – such as how “tense” or “calm” they are.

After they have rated the valence of the feelings, Apple’s feature asks users to label their feelings using a list of adjectives such as “grateful”, “worried”, “happy” or “discouraged”.

Do these options capture the breadth of human feelings? The number of unique emotion categories[25] – or whether discrete emotion categories exist at all[26] – is a topic of ongoing scientific debate[27]. Yet, Apple’s initial list of feeling categories provides pretty decent coverage of this space.

What are the benefits?

Apple’s claim that mood and emotion tracking may improve users’ wellbeing is not unfounded. Research has shown monitoring and labelling feelings enhances people’s ability to differentiate between emotions[28], and helps them cope with distress[29]. Both of these are key ingredients for healthy psychological functioning.

Beyond that, emerging research suggests that patterns of moment-to-moment fluctuations in people’s everyday feelings may be useful in predicting who is at risk of developing depression[30] or other mental illnesses.

Apple’s history of research collaboration[31] offers hope that tracking people’s feelings on a massive scale may lead to scientific breakthroughs[32] in our understanding, treatment and prevention of common mental health disorders.

What are the risks?

At the same time, Apple is asking users to hand over yet more of their personal data – so we can’t overlook the potential pitfalls of the new feature.

Apple assures users[33] the Health app is “designed for privacy and security” with a range of safeguards[34], including data encryption and user control over data sharing. It guarantees health data “may not be used for advertising, marketing, or sold to data brokers”.

This may sound encouraging, but Apple’s data privacy record is far from perfect[35]. The company was recently fined by French authorities for using customers’ data[36] for targeted advertising without consent.

Detailed data on users’ self-reported moods and emotions could also potentially be used for advertising products and services[37]. The potential for misuse[38] and commodification[39] of sensitive mental health data is real, suggesting a need for stricter regulation[40] over how companies collect, store and use customers’ data.

Before you dive into using Apple’s new mood and emotion-tracking feature, we’d urge you to consider whether the risks[41] outweigh the potential benefits for you.

References

  1. ^ expected to drop (www.apple.com)
  2. ^ experience sampling (doi.org)
  3. ^ mental health studies (doi.org)
  4. ^ harvests from customers (www.healthline.com)
  5. ^ Health app (www.apple.com)
  6. ^ claims this will (www.apple.com)
  7. ^ gyroscope (www.techtarget.com)
  8. ^ US$56 billion (A$86.9 billion) by 2024 (www.businesswire.com)
  9. ^ one of (www.reuters.com)
  10. ^ Imagine if technology could read and react to our emotions (theconversation.com)
  11. ^ scientists are divided (www.nature.com)
  12. ^ facial expressions (doi.org)
  13. ^ physiological responses (doi.org)
  14. ^ understanding human emotion (doi.org)
  15. ^ about something (journals.sagepub.com)
  16. ^ tied to specific events (doi.org)
  17. ^ different cognitive processes (doi.org)
  18. ^ of people’s feelings (doi.org)
  19. ^ known as valence (doi.org)
  20. ^ other essential dimensions (doi.org)
  21. ^ mixed emotions (doi.org)
  22. ^ in everyday life (doi.org)
  23. ^ dimension of their feelings (doi.org)
  24. ^ level of arousal (doi.org)
  25. ^ unique emotion categories (doi.org)
  26. ^ exist at all (doi.org)
  27. ^ scientific debate (doi.org)
  28. ^ differentiate between emotions (doi.org)
  29. ^ cope with distress (doi.org)
  30. ^ at risk of developing depression (doi.org)
  31. ^ research collaboration (newsroom.ucla.edu)
  32. ^ scientific breakthroughs (doi.org)
  33. ^ Apple assures users (www.apple.com)
  34. ^ a range of safeguards (www.apple.com)
  35. ^ far from perfect (gizmodo.com.au)
  36. ^ using customers’ data (gizmodo.com.au)
  37. ^ advertising products and services (www.theguardian.com)
  38. ^ potential for misuse (right.ly)
  39. ^ commodification (youtu.be)
  40. ^ need for stricter regulation (www.choice.com.au)
  41. ^ the risks (doi.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/apple-wants-to-know-if-youre-happy-or-sad-as-part-of-its-latest-software-update-who-will-this-benefit-210789

The Times Features

What’s the difference between wholemeal and wholegrain bread? Not a whole lot

If you head to the shops to buy bread, you’ll face a variety of different options. But it can be hard to work out the difference between all the types on sale. For instance...

Expert Tips for Planning Home Electrical Upgrades in Australia

Home electrical systems in Australia are quite intricate and require careful handling. Safety and efficiency determine the functionality of these systems, and it's critical to ...

Floor Tiling: Choosing the Right Tiles for Every Room

Choosing floor tiles is more than just grabbing the first design that catches your eye at the showroom. You need to think about how the floor tiling option will fit into your spa...

Exploring Family Caravans: Your Ultimate Guide to Mobile Living and Travel

Australia is the land of vast horizons, spectacular coastlines, and a never-ending adventure. As landscapes and adventures vary across the country, Voyager will route you, carava...

Energy-Efficient Homes in Geelong: How a Local Electrician Can Help You Save Money

Rising energy bills don’t have to be the new normal. With Victoria’s energy prices up 25% last year, Geelong homeowners are fighting back and winning, by partnering with licenced...

Eating disorders don’t just affect teen girls. The risk may go up around pregnancy and menopause too

Eating disorders impact more than 1.1 million people in Australia[1], representing 4.5% of the population. These disorders include binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and...

Times Magazine

The Power of Digital Signage in Modern Marketing

In a fast-paced digital world, businesses must find innovative ways to capture consumer attention. Digital signage has emerged as a powerful solution, offering dynamic and engaging content that attracts and retains customers. From retail stores to ...

Why Cloud Computing Is the Future of IT Infrastructure for Enterprises

Globally, cloud computing is changing the way business organizations manage their IT infrastructure. It offers cheap, flexible and scalable solutions. Cloud technologies are applied in organizations to facilitate procedures and optimize operation...

First Nations Writers Festival

The First Nations Writers Festival (FNWF) is back for its highly anticipated 2025 edition, continuing its mission to celebrate the voices, cultures and traditions of First Nations communities through literature, art and storytelling. Set to take ...

Improving Website Performance with a Cloud VPS

Websites represent the new mantra of success. One slow website may make escape for visitors along with income too. Therefore it's an extra offer to businesses seeking better performance with more scalability and, thus represents an added attracti...

Why You Should Choose Digital Printing for Your Next Project

In the rapidly evolving world of print media, digital printing has emerged as a cornerstone technology that revolutionises how businesses and creative professionals produce printed materials. Offering unparalleled flexibility, speed, and quality, d...

What to Look for When Booking an Event Space in Melbourne

Define your event needs early to streamline venue selection and ensure a good fit. Choose a well-located, accessible venue with good transport links and parking. Check for key amenities such as catering, AV equipment, and flexible seating. Pla...

LayBy Shopping