Hisham Sarwar
Scientists are developing a smart wrist band that tells what kind of mood you are in. We got hold of the scientist who is in the news worldwide for his amazing work and took his interview.
I am Muhammad Umair working as Research Associate at Lancaster University, UK. I am from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. I did my undergraduate from National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
After graduating from NUST, I got South Korea’s highest-paid scholarship to pursue my masters in Computer Software at Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI). ETRI is one the pioneer research institute of South Korea, which tops in the world in the number of patents.
At Lancaster University, I am working on a European project funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, one of the most competitive in the EU. The Project is called AffecTech (Personal technologies for mental health)
My research looks using commercial biosensors and integrating them with different smart materials and actuators to create an emotional awareness in daily lives. The qualities of these smart materials and actuators i.e. slow changes in colors, temperature changes, subtle vibrations, squeezing sensation etc. which can also be felt directly on the body, can be leveraged to create not only emotional awareness but also to regulate ongoing feelings and relax bodily functions.
I have published a research paper recently, which I presented on 28th June in San Diego, California, USA. Here is the link of the paper, which describes my work in detail.
To summarize, the article talks about using different smart materials, such as slow changes in thermochromic colors, vibrotactile feedback, squeezing sensation, heat feedback on the wrist to create an emotional awareness and regulation in daily lives.
The devices use a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor, which measures changes in skin conductance to inform increase in emotional arousal.
To know more details, please have a look at the paper. I have also attached the paper in the email. This research has been picked up by many notable media outlets across the globe. I have named just a few below.
- BBC Radio 1: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0006dbk from 2:23:30
- Daily Mirror UK: https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/smart-wristband-can-read-your-17271174
- Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicabaron/2019/06/28/can-smart-materials-really-read-our-emotions/#14a32675e18b
- Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190628120443.htm
- US News: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-07-01/how-are-you-feeling-check-your-wristband
- Med Gadget: https://www.medgadget.com/2019/06/smart-wrist-band-helps-wearers-with-affective-disorders-to-monitor-emotions.html
- Auckland Magazine: https://www.aucklandmagazine.com/wearable-smart-material-band-provides-insight-into-users-emotions/
- Tech explore: https://techxplore.com/news/2019-06-smart-materials-real-time-insight-wearers.html
- Tribune India: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/new-wrist-bands-can-provide-insight-into-users-emotions/795518.html
- Times now India: https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/article/this-wrist-band-can-help-you-monitor-emotions-heres-all-you-need-to-know/446103
- India Times: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/angry-happy-or-depressed-this-wearable-device-changes-colour-shape-to-highlight-emotions/articleshow/70021091.cms?from=mdr
- Print editions of The Sun, Metro and the Daily Record.
Pictures are taken by Paul Turner
