MIT’s new automated ‘life coach’ can help you ace job interviews (video)

In the spirit of Father’s Day, I’m guessing everyone has probably heard the phrase “it’s not what you say; it’s how you say it.” Well, MIT is actually applying that concept to a new automated program that rates your body language as you talk to someone.

Shown in the video embedded below, MIT’s My Automated Conversation coacH (MACH for short) is software that takes the form of an automated person for you to interact with. The representation of a person pops up on a screen and allows you to ask and answer questions. The software then reads facial expressions, speech patterns, and performs behavioral analysis.

The point of MACH is to help people realize when they do things like not make eye contact with someone or do things that might come off as overly nervous or just plain strange. MIT notes that social phobias plague over 15 million adults in the U.S. alone, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Software like this could really come in handy for those who just aren’t good with social interaction — especially if they’re trying to get a new job.