The BuddyBear looks much like any other cuddly teddy bear from the front, except for the small camera embedded in its furry white chest.

Turn the bear around, however, and the screen mounted to its back displays emoticons that translate the emotions of people in real time. The BuddyBear is the handiwork of two master of laws students and two computer science students in Cornell University's Manhattan-based technology program. It's designed to help autistic children decipher emotions—a concept many struggle with.


Prototype of the BuddyBear.


Courtesy photo

The camera on the front of the bear takes photos of people, then the software analyzes their facial expression to determine their emotion. Children then see that emotion, in emoticon form, displayed on the back screen.