"Deep down almost every bookshop lover knows that picking a new book to read is, at times, a fairly superficial process. We're tuned to judge books by their covers, despite the advice of cliches. But what happens when the tables are turned, and the covers are the ones judging us?
Thijs Biersteker, a Dutch artist, has created a book that uses facial recognition to decide whether you are worthy of reading it. The book scans your face, reading your emotional state; if it senses that you are either too excited or in a sour mood, it will lock itself shut, preventing you from reading in the wrong frame of mind.
First you align your face with the book's built-in screen which intentionally resembles the face of a robot out of the 1927 dystopian film Metropolis. If you're overly amped or skeptical of the book, it will not open. You need to maintain a very serious reading expression, demonstrating your intent to focus on the content of the book.
Biersteker explains that his thought process behind the book spoke to the anxiety he feels when searching out new literature. He adds that, in practice, the book garners an immediate, and interesting, emotional reaction from people.
"I think there is a lot of irony in a book that judges you on judgement by judging you. The playfulness in combination with the technology makes people smile the moment they see it."
1. What is the main idea behind the article?
A - Books can now judge their readers.
B - You shouldn't choose a book when you aren't in a good mood.
C - People should consider more than just the cover when choosing a book.
D - New technology can help us choose what books people should be reading.