BIOSENSING
makezine.com/26/primer
THE QUANTIFIED SELF
KEY
PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENON
SENSOR TYPE(S)
EXAMPLES
FACIAL EXPRESSION
BRAIN ACTIVITY
EEG (electrodes);
NeuroSky Mindset,
XWave, OCZ NIA,
OpenEEG
Near; infrared
spectroscopy
BioPAC fNIR*
EYE TRACKING,
PUPILLOMETRY
Video, IR video
ITU Gaze Tracker,
Opengazer
Video
Avatar Kinect, Open CV
libraries, Affectiva*,
Noldus*
EMG (electrodes);
Apply over corrugator and
zygomatic muscles; see
facialemg.com
MOVEMENT,
MUSCLE ACTIVITY,
POSTURE
Accelerometer
SparkFun Wi Tilt
EMG (electrodes);
BioFlex
Flex sensor
FlexiForce pressure sensor
Video, IR video
Kinect for Xbox 360
GSR, PERSPIRATION
Skin conductance
“Truth Meter” circuit
BLOOD PRESSURE,
ORGAN VOLUME
Plethysmography
Omron HEM-790IT
RESPIRATION
BLOOD OXYGEN LEVEL,
BLOOD VOLUME
HEART RATE
Microphone
Apply over chest, back,
or trachea
Pulse oximeter
IR emitter and detector circuit
EMG (electrodes);
Apply over diaphragm and
intercostal muscles
Monitor
Garmin, Nordic,
NuMetrex, Polar
(with SparkFun HRMI
or ANT transceiver)
TEMPERATURE
Stretch sensor
Images SI Flexible Stretch
Thermometer
TMP102
digital temperature sensor
For sourcing links and additional information, see makezine.com/26/primer
* Items are beyond typical DI Y budgets, at least for now.
† Peel-and-stick electrodes (available cheap in bulk) with alligator leads clipped to the metal nipples on the back.
ECG (electrodes);
Apply to right chest,
left chest, and ankle;
see “Citizen Scientist:
DIY ECGs,” by
Dr. Shawn (MAKE
Volume 11, page 157)
Illustration by Oliver Munday
104 Make: makezine.com/26
