Beware, this mirror can read your mind

Japanese researchers have developed a system, which is capable of manipulating your emotions and personal preferences by presenting you with an image of your own smiling or frowning face.

The researchers were interested to see if the principle that emotional drives can be driven by physiological ones, could be used to build a computer system that manipulates how people feel.

The newly system created by Shigeo Yoshida and colleagues at the University of Tokyo in Japan works by showing a user a webcam image of his or her face - just like they would see when they looked in a mirror, New Scientist reported.

A software subtly alters the image, and turns the corners of the mouth up or down and changes area around the eyes, so that he/she appears to smile or frown.

According to the researchers, the system can be used to manipulate consumers' impressions of products.

For instance, screens showing reflections, which have been altered, could replace mirrors in clothing-store fitting rooms.

The researchers also suggested that people could be likelier to find clothes attractive if they see themselves happy while they are trying the clothes.