Face-Scanning Book Judges You by Your Cover, Decides Whether You Can Read It

Oh, so it's OK when books do it?
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An artist has invented a book with built-in face-scanning technology that will only open if your face bears an emotionless expression to make sure you’re not judging it by its cover. He has successfully created the world’s first willfully hypocritical book.

Thijs Biersteker created the judgmental book cover as a prototype for the cover of the 2015 annual edition for the Art Directors Club Netherlands. He wanted to invent a mechanism that would make sure anyone who would view the artwork inside would be going into it with the most malleable possible mindset and no preconceived expectations.

Biersteker wrote, “I often worry about my scepticism and judgement getting in my way of amazement and Judgement should never hinder relentless enthusiasm of seeing things for the first time.”

This is cool for books and all, but the possibilities for adaptation are endless. You could use it to keep you from playing online games when you’re already in a bad mood. Or maybe we could get a version that doesn’t let you watch sad movies when your face appears emotionally vulnerable. Or the holy grail: a grocery store door that doesn’t open if you look hungry. That’s some serious future utopia we’d be living in.

(via Daily Dot)

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Dan Van Winkle
Dan Van Winkle (he) is an editor and manager who has been working in digital media since 2013, first at now-defunct Geekosystem (RIP), and then at The Mary Sue starting in 2014, specializing in gaming, science, and technology. Outside of his professional experience, he has been active in video game modding and development as a hobby for many years. He lives in North Carolina with Lisa Brown (his wife) and Liz Lemon (their dog), both of whom are the best, and you will regret challenging him at Smash Bros.