I want to create a wearable set of biosensors that will detect fear (anxiety, excitement, fear). I've tinkered with Arduino a few times over the last couple of years. I am an ex-cop with PTSD/Severe anxiety and want to create something that will warn me before a panic attack kicks in and I think it is possible to make it with Arduino. Can anyone point me to a DIY project or help me prototype something like this? The EKG and GSR are easy enough to make but need two Arduinos. I'd really like to learn how to combine different sensors into a single project, prototype it and go from tinkering to making a practical item. All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Are you saying that you have both of these working and want to combine them ?
If so, please post the sketches and schematics of the two separate projects
Which Arduinos are you using and how do you envisage the combined project being powered in your combined application ?
What have you learned about commercially available sensors that reliably detect fear and/or anxiety?
It seems that both false negative and false positive detections could be a problem.
1 Like
Being burned out myself Your project is taken seriously and is intereseting.
Tried Google on GSR but ..... What does it stand for?
I know myself that blood pressure is closely related to nerves....
1 Like
Gun Shot Residue
3 Likes
Or Galvanic Skin Resistance (Reaction)
It must be an explosive, hot guy, needing to detect gun powder.....
1 Like
More likely. Check with engineers designing polygraphs?
1 Like
@jremington there isn't a lot out there and what there is, is kinda expensive.
@UKHeliBob I don't. I have made them from sensors before. I want to learn how to combine them to make a small, wearable unit. I would like to create a PCB and make it so anyone can make one and put it on and help themselves without using medications. I want them to get their life back. I want to do more than tinkering with parts and code, you know? It's not about making money. It's about helping people help themselves. What would be awesome to add is to have a beep that the wearer can hear, focus on and hear it gradually slow down. It refocuses from all the feelings to focusing on a tone. The distraction tricks the brain into forgetting the pain. So there it is. Is anyone interested in doing this? I'm in.
it's a lie detector made project. GSR stands for Galvanic Skin Response.
Yeah, no.
Just having fun 
1 Like
Make one, make it work. Wear it. Attach a button for event recording. When you have symptoms press the button. Do the same with the other monitors. You will be able to correlate individual changes in the sensors with your events. Combining multiple sensor event correlations will help to alleviate false negative and positive effects. A simple comparator will be able to tell you that when sensor A triggers AND sensor B triggers preset values then trigger alarm
1 Like
I figured. Just with all the recent mass shootings and mental issues related to them... you know? Other people may misinterpret.
Exactly! Spot on. So how? There are many approaches so that is why I am here. Many minds instead of my 62-year-old one can make this a reality.
Just start with one sensor, 1 arduino and look for a tutorial. Post your best attempt on here. Refine and while you wear one move on to the next sensor. The more sensors and the more data the less false negatives/positives. There is some machine learning stuff you could use later
1 Like
You young guys always flaunt your youth at us older Grey Haired Old Pissers GHOPs
At first thought, think heart/pulse_rate would be adequate.
Suggest monitoring for a period of time and if the rate stays higher than a trigger level for a selectable time, a beep, vibrating motor etc. is outputted.
A second time out period could suggest sitting down and having a cool beer. Would need a mechanism to stop you from cheating.
2 Likes
You might find that it is rate of change that is the trigger rather than specific rate. The problem is that heart rate should adjust accordingly to your situation such as exercise so you are looking for a change that is rapid and not related to exercise. Once you have more than one sensor you can do things such as detect movement and if you are obviously jogging etc adjust your trigger parameters
1 Like
As an added benefit, if no pulses are detected, you are warned about death
1 Like
LOL Uh huh...