14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is all about future technologies these days, so the company recently showcased what it calls Bing Now, a new system that can show users the current atmosphere in bars and restaurants.
Based on data collected from smartphones, Bing Now can automatically estimate the noise level and the occupancy level of a specific location, thus helping users pick the best place to eat or have a drink.
According to Dimitrios Lymberopoulos, a member of the sensing and energy group at Microsoft Research, the application collects between 6 and 10 seconds of audio samples.
It then analyzes the information and displays the result on your mobile phone, classifying the size of the crowd, the level of chatter and the music volume as low, normal or high, MIT Technology Review writes.
The app is currently in private beta testing, so it could be a while before it sees daylight, but we must all admit that it could become quite an easy way to pick a place to eat depending on your mood.