Skin-based emotion detector could prevent meltdowns, injuries in people with Autism

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Body sensor that detects emotions through skin could prevent autistic meltdowns

Researchers at Waltham, Mass.-based Affectiva have developed a wrist-based

sensor that detects emotions through the skin--a key factor in being able to

predetermine psychological meltdowns in autistic children. According to lind

Picard, director of the Affective Computing Research Group at the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology and co-founder of Affectiva, it's not always evident

when autistic children become stressed until their tension builds, resulting in

aggression toward others, and even self-injury. Teachers and other caregivers

also have a hard time anticipating and preventing meltdowns in autistic

children, Picard notes. Affectiva's Q Sensor, worn on a wristband, stores or

transmits a wearer's stress levels throughout the day, giving doctors,

caregivers, and patients a way to observe reactions. Such data could provide an

objective way for doctors and caregivers to determine what might be causing the

stress, and to learn what activities restore calm, Picard said. Full Story

Further Information

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/26615/

Nora Middleton

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