Looking Outwards – Will Taylor

While browsing Sparkfun and Adafruit, I began thinking about different combinations of sensors I could use in a project. The webcam, pulse sensor, and microphone stood out as a good trio for me. I think it would be very interesting to have audio and visual data for situations in which a person becomes stressed, aroused, or extremely relaxed. The focus doesn’t necessarily have to be on the person whose pulse is being recorded. Perhaps the webcam and microphone is in a separate location, but will not be activated until the participant reaches a relaxed, meditative state. I would definitely want to make the project about relaxation, because in today’s fast-paced lifestyle it’s become harder to get into a calm state of mind.

Webcam:

 

Pulse Sensor:

Microphone:

 

 

On a separate note, one sensor that really stood out to me was the weather sensor. It’s really cool that technology has reached the point where these can be manufactured so inexpensively. I’d like to use this sensor in an interactive installation or sculpture that would change in accordance with the weather outside.

Weather sensor: