Technology touches or influences virtually every aspect of our lives today and it’s no different when it comes to psychology. Similar to how technology influences how people behave and think, as well as how they work, psychologists utilize technology to investigate, comprehend, and even treat mental disorders. Technology also aids psychologists with their research, allowing them to collect and analyze data much quicker and more precisely than they otherwise. Technology is a crucial part of psychological research and treatment. From using computers for fMRI imaging, to developing electronic tools for analyzing and tracking symptoms in patients suffering from depression or anxiety.
Technology also impacts the way that humans interact with the digital systems in which they interact with on a daily basis. Many of the most renowned technology companies around the globe have large departments staffed by psychologists who are experts in perception and cognition of humans. They conduct studies to determine how people react to certain designs and then give recommendations based on that. The majority of the time when you use a piece of technology, such as your phone or Facebook you are benefiting from the collaboration between psychology and computer science.
Sidney D’Mello, a researcher at Notre Dame University, is one of the many researchers working at the intersection of psychology and computers. His research is focused on “affective computing,” which is the study of how computers recognize and interpret emotions. For instance, his group has developed a advice system that can allow computers to predict when a user is likely to be frustrated or anxious, so that it can take action before that occurs.
