T5 Hardware Sensor Research

From SoftwarePractice.org

The project requires us to "design and construct a small software system using a set of object oriented design techniques and Java programming language". The context that this software system will be developed in is in the form of a device that measures the skin temperature, pulse and galvanic skin response of a user. The device is to be worn on the user and must be able to show the user the data that the device has collected. In order to collect the data, it is assumed that three hardware sensors attached appropriately onto the body of the user will be connected to (or be part of) the device. The purpose of this article is to accumulate and centralize research data we have collected on technological methods to measure skin temperature, pulse and galvanic skin response.

Skin Temperature

Methods

Feedback Thermometer: A thermistor attached to the subject's digits or web dorsum measures the subject's skin temperature. ([1])

Pulse (Heartbeat)

Methods

Galvanic Skin Response

Background

Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) is a method of measuring the electrical resistance of the skin. There has been links made between the GSR of a user and their current emotional state.

Practical Uses

Measuring the GSR of a user has been used in polygraph devices (lie detectors). It is a component of polygraph devices.

Members of the Church of Scientology utilize E-meters in their performance of auditing. The E-meter is based on GSR measurement.

Methods