Breathe deeply – you are excited

A bracelet has been created to help control emotions

Maria Azarova, Naked Science

Engineers from the School of Computing and Communications at Lancaster University (UK) have developed a "smart" bracelet that changes color, heats up, vibrates and squeezes the wearer's wrist when the level of his emotional arousal changes. A press release describing the new Smart materials technology provide real-time insight into wearers’ emotions is published on the university's website.

According to the creators of the device, this bracelet will help patients with affective disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, as well as people suffering from sudden "inappropriate emotions" (fear, anxiety, rage, anger, and so on), to keep their feelings under control.

At the same time, a "smart" gadget created from thermosensitive materials that react to skin temperature is absolutely self-sufficient: for example, it does not require synchronization with a smartphone.

"Previous work on a similar technology focused on graphs and abstract visualization of biosignals on mobile and web interfaces. However, we focused on devices that are put on the hand and work not only through visual signals, but can also be felt through vibration, sensations of "tightening" and warmth. At the same time, you do not need access to other programs. Our prototypes provide real–time data," said Mohammed Umair, one of the authors of the development.

During the tests, the volunteers wore bracelets for 8-16 hours: they played, talked with other people, worked, laughed, rested, watched movies, felt fear, surprise – in general, the whole range of emotions present in everyday life. Meanwhile, the sensor, tightly fitting to the wrist, monitored the change of feelings by measuring the electrical activity of the skin and gave signals.

As Umair emphasized, thanks to the bracelet, test participants began to pay attention to their instant emotional reactions, understood when their mood changed very sharply, while they could realize and analyze the reasons for these changes.

Engineers intend to conduct additional tests in order to better study the materials used, upgrade the device and find the most profitable design solution for it.

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