Wearable 'Q Sensor' Helps Monitor Stress Levels

by Terrence O'Brien on October 29, 2010 at 08:20 AM

A new wristband from the MIT Media Lab-spawned company Affectiva can purportedly detect stress levels in the wearer, and give cues to their emotional state. The Q Sensor operates similarly to a polygraph by detecting electrical changes in the user's skin. When a person is excited, worried or upset, moisture begins to gather under the skin's surface, often as a prelude to sweating. The Q Sensor measures that buildup -- known as "skin conductance" -- and can provide the user with an indication of their anxiety level. Affectiva hopes that caregivers will be able to use the wristbands to detect the stress levels of, and defuse potential emotional meltdowns in autistic patients, especially children.

Autistic children often don't show when they're stressed until they erupt, sometimes violently, after a prolonged buildup. The Q Sensor can't pinpoint the exact level of stress, or differentiate excitement from depression; but it can give important warnings to teachers and other caregivers to sudden shifts in mood, allowing them to take appropriate preventative measures. To minimize the occurrence of false positives, the Q Sensor additionally monitors body temperature and motion. Researchers can also use the sensors to collect valuable data (that could otherwise only be obtained in a laboratory), and download it to a computer via USB. Trial versions of the device will be made available next month for $2,000 -- but we assume Affectiva will drop the price after the beta period if it hopes to get these devices in the hands of organizations that care for autistic children. Check out a video of the device after the break.

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Tags: affectiva, autism, autistickids, health, kids, mit, MitMediaLab, QSensor, science, SkinConductance, stress, top

source: Technology Review

Comments

cyanidekiss6Oct 29th 2010 2:12PM

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I hate this world.

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fred mahrOct 29th 2010 5:23PM

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Modern mood ring. Old Idea with a new twist.

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KJOct 29th 2010 8:15PM

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I'm not autistic, but, depending on the cost, I'd be more than willing to invest $ into this product. Considering during times of high stess (and lack of sleep) my body/brain is is kinda put in a short circut/re-start mode. This causes me to lose conciousness only to regain it on the floor w/no control what-so-ever over my extremities/muscles/body. Fortunately, episodes like this are extremely rare and very in degree. Im 35yo and can count the # of times this has occured on one hand. The last spell I had was the worse (I hit my head on my shelving unit n woke up concussed w/quite a bit of blood still trickling down my face). I'm actually glad I have no memory of it. I figure that I must've blocked it out of my recolection for some good reason (must've been traumatic on my body/mind/soul). Of the 4X it's happened I've only lost conciousness and woke up on the floor (flopping around like a dying fish) twice. I've had NUMEROUS/COUNTLESS tests performed to try and get a proper diagnoses. However, NONE, not even ONE of them yeilded ANY abnormal results (Story of my life, Figures). This 'should' be good news. RIGHT? WRONG! As warped/twisted as it may sound I was hoping for something/anything to come back as being not quite 'normal' (what is normal today anyways?).. That way at least I'd have a (valid) diagnoses to go on. At least I could research options/meds/nutrition/ect. to keep myself stable. So, seen as how I dont have a diagnoses, I personally could REALLY benefit from something like this. The more I think about in the more eagar I become to give it a go.

Errrr, scratch EVERYTHING I just wrote. ALL of it. I just re-read the article again and failed to see the price tag of the wristband. $2000 BUX? INSANE! What about insurance? I see no mention of that in the article at all. Yet again, this FIGURES. I MUST'VE irked someone/thing out there cuz whenever a positive opportunity/chance comes along (like this one) to perhaps/maybe better my life, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS (NEVER FAILS), get STOOPED/SCREWED. ALWAYS! $2000!?!?? Yeah, that's just mere' pocket change BLAH!

BTW: Why the HeLL'O is "Affectiva" limiting the 'trial' of their wristbands to Autistic children? Why not test them on Autistic adults? Plus, I can think of COUNTLESS other disabilities/diseases/ect that could and probably would beneifit from their product. Not just me either. I'm friends w/someone who (respectfully) fought over in Afghanistan. He's since been diagnosed w/PTSD (along w/many other things) by several Dr's. I also 'had' (I say had cuz he commited suicide) an Uncle who was diagnosed w/having schizophrenia (also along w/many other things). The last time I checked schizophrenics (along w/Autistics) also are known to (and I quote) "...erupt, sometimes violently, after a prolonged buildup". Has it even crossed this company's mind their wristband could (I quote again) "......detect the stress levels of, and defuse potential emotional meltdowns....", or suicides, in schizophrenics as well? I dont know. I'm probably just over reacting. After all their product isnt even released 'yet'. I'm just a lil' baffled about the limitations when SO many others could benefit is all (shrugs).

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