Rate the following essay on its writing, argument, and language skills:
Recently, a new technology, the Facial Action Coding System, has allowed for the identification of human emotions by computers. This technology sparks the interest of many, myself included; however, I do not believe that there is any use for it in the classroom. The technology in the classroom is not valuable because it will cost money, humans can read facial expressions and body language well on their own, and also it may be a learning curve compared to traditional learning.

The new technology will undoubtedly cost some money, whether it be the cost for research or the cost of purchasing the software itself. Software licenses can be costly for some schools, and it may be out of their budget. With education heading towards a more digital path rather than a paper and pencil path, schools will be spending more money on computers and digital devices. I see the software as something that will only be used a nominal amount, and overall will be a waste of school funds.

When your friend looks like they are having a bad day, you can typically be able to read their facial expressions and body language. This is something that computers will not be able to do as well as a friend or family member. Sure, a computer can read your emotions based on the position of muscles, but a friend can better tell when your mood is off. In the text, the author states, "In fact, we humans perform this same impressive "calculation" every day. For instance, you can probably tell how a friend is feeling simply by the look on her face." The author also states, "A classroom computer could recognize when a student is becoming confused or bored." Generally, a teacher can tell when their students are not understanding their lesson or are bored by reading their body language. They may have a hand on their head with their eyes barely open to show that they are tired of listening to the lesson, or they may have their eyes squinted if they are confused. In paragraph 6 author states, "Most human communication is nonverbal, including emotional communication, so computers need to understand that too." This nonverbal communication can be easily interpreted by the teacher, and is not needed to be done by a computer.

Lastly, the technology may be a learning curve to both students and teachers. The author states, "For example, if you smile when a Web ad appears on your screen, a similar ad might follow. But if you frown, the next ad will be different, A classroom computer could recognize when a student is becoming confused or bored, then it could modify the lesson, like an effective human instructor." This technology could be inaccurate and ineffective to students who think to change their facial expressions. They could exploit the software to manipulate the questions in their favor. I believe that the traditional way of teaching is more effective, and if the student does not understand the question, they can ask for help right away or arrange for help at a later time.

Overall, I do not believe that the Facial Action Coding System would be usefull in the classroom setting. It may be innovative and new, but it does not have a place in education. The technology will be costly, it is pointless because humans can already red emotions, and also it would provide a bit of a learning curve for students and teachers.

Score: 5