Overview
Project Brief
Believing that the key to enhancing human-technology interaction lies in understanding emotions, I chose to collaborate with Hanyang University Engineering Lab to design and create a wearable device called E-Motion Gloves that could read galvanic skin responses of its users to transform human emotions into quantifiable data. Seeing that it could be expanded into medicine, gaming, lie detectors, etc.
2015.04 - 2015.12
Team : A Designer, Two researchers, Four engineers.
My Role
Designer
Discussed with software engineers and researchers.
Developing
The ’E-Motion glove' is the world's first wearable glove that utilizes a GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) sensor, gyroscope, inertial sensors to measure acceleration, and flex sensors to recognize human hand movements and even interpret emotions.
The GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) sensor is one of the sensors used in lie detectors. It works by measuring changes in skin conductance when sweat is produced on the skin. When a person gets anxious, they often sweat on their palms, so by measuring this, it can determine the wearer's level of anxiety. Moreover, when combined with a heart rate sensor, which monitors the heart's rhythm, it can analyze mood fluctuations, stress levels, and overall emotional states more effectively.
On the back of the glove, there are gyroscopes and inertial sensors that detect the orientation of the glove and measure acceleration. Both of these sensors are commonly found in smartphones. Thanks to these two sensors, the glove can accurately determine the angle and movement of the hand, even when the wrist is twisted or the arm is in motion.
For measuring the intricate movements of the fingers, flex sensors were utilized. These sensors, consisting of a pliable material arranged linearly along the fingers, exhibit changes in electrical resistance in response to the degree of bending.
In order to incorporate a variety of sensors, I, as a designer, undertook the fabrication by sewing using a specialized conductive material called Litz Wire.
Research
As a designer, it is essential to comprehend the interaction and functionality of each sensor.
Upon gaining a comprehensive understanding of every component, I proceed to create designs using suitable materials.
Design Research
Design Prototyping
Result
Apply
The method of wearing the glove and forming hand gestures offers the potential for more diverse simultaneous commands than using a keyboard or mouse, making it highly useful for gaming.
Furthermore, it can detect the wearer's mood and reflect it in the expressions of online game avatars.
Additionally, it can find applications in the field of rehabilitative therapy by monitoring and quantifying the extent to which stroke patients regain fine motor control in their hands,
especially for those who experience movement discomfort.