Conflict detector picks the best bits in political debates

Tonight, millions of Americans will watch the first of three 90-minute election debates as presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney square off – while millions who can't tune in will probably catch a recording later. But if the debate is a lacklustre snore draw, with just a handful of worthwhile flashpoints, there's no reason those watching the re-run should have to plough through the entire thing.

At least, that's the thinking behind a novel AI system designed to detect the liveliest bouts of verbal fisticuffs in a debate. Developed at the University of Glasgow in the UK and the Idiap Research Institute in Martigny, Switzerland, the system has essentially been taught to recognise the sound of people arguing heatedly. The team behind it hope it will one day allow viewers and listeners to fast forward to the best bits of recorded debates.

"The idea is that if you like the 'hot' conflict moments in a TV debate, you can pick the segments where the discussion is more heated," says project head Alessandro Vinciarelli at Glasgow. "Otherwise, you can pick segments where the discussion is calm." ...

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