1. Executive Summary
Our project has made substantial progress in understanding and assessing stress levels in GSAPP (Avery Hall) using innovative GSR sensor technology. The main findings highlight the variability of stress levels among individuals, the influence of time and space on stress experiences, and the impact of activities on stress levels. These insights emphasize the importance of personalized and context-aware stress management strategies.
By employing GSR glove sensors and video cameras and strategically installing GSR sensors in various locations within Avery Hall, our project has successfully gathered extensive data that sheds light on the complex nature of stress experiences. Despite the challenges posed by individual differences, sensor accuracy, privacy concerns, and interpretation of GSR data, our project has laid a strong foundation for further research and innovation in stress assessment and management.
Our findings hold significant implications for developing more effective stress management strategies and interventions tailored to individual needs and contexts. By addressing the challenges and building upon the insights gained, our project has the potential to greatly contribute to the enhancement of mental health and well-being in the Avery Hall community and beyond, ultimately fostering a healthier and more resilient society.
2. Introduction, including context and motivations
Mental health is significant to maintain a balanced and sustainable life. Stress is one of the aspects of evaluating our mental health. We experience stress in scenarios like performing work, studying knowledge, interacting with people, achieving goals, etc.
Our project aims to help people to test and realize their stress levels through numeric data, providing an approach for us to better understand the stress situation and pay attention to our mental health.
3. Local Interactions
We have two types of products, one for the GSAPP community (A), and the other for individuals (B). For community one, the interactive installations are placed within Avery’s surroundings and provide a real-time display to attract engagement. Individually, GSR sensors are built into portable devices for detection, quantitatively helping students know how they can relieve stress.
Individual – Portable Device
The stress sensors are integrated into the earphones and/or rings. After the user wears the devices, skin conductivity data will be collected. The numeric data will be transmitted to the app on the carrier device (e.g. iWatch or phone) through wireless connections. And the carrier equipment will display the real-time stress level, different colors (red for increasing, yellow for decreasing), and frequencies to indicate the stress level and trend.
Furthermore, we are encouraging people to use the different devices in the market that could provide physiological measures (such as heart rate variability, cortisol levels, and skin conductance) to test out their stress levels and upload the data into our stress map. This could provide the user with one personal stress map as the stress health journal, plus if the user allowed, the data could be shared into a building stress map (such as Avery Stress Map), or a city stress map ( such as NYC Stress Map) to create a public observation monitor.
The Lion Head installations are deployed through Avery Hall and the surrounding Plaza. Students and faculties in the community of GSAPP encounter these stress sensor installations on their way in and out of the building, waiting for the elevators, switching classrooms, chatting in the hallways, having meals in the cafeteria, etc.
The collected stress sensor data will be integrated into the 3D model of Avery. Viewers can walk through the model and see the spatial distribution of the stress level. The creation of a stress map of the GSAPP community will provide a new perspective for us to percept the space. Stress level data, a new type of information related to the cognitive and psychological state of space users, is fed into building information systems.
4. Technologies Used
The GSR glove sensor is a wearable device designed to measure Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) from the fingertips. It consists of conductive materials, such as electrodes, placed on the inside of the glove, which come in contact with the skin to detect minute changes in skin conductance. These changes are primarily driven by sweat gland activity, which is influenced by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system during emotional arousal, stress, or excitement. GSR glove sensors provide a non-invasive and convenient method for collecting continuous GSR data during various activities and tasks. Key technological considerations include ensuring that the electrodes maintain consistent contact with the skin for accurate readings, minimizing motion artifacts, and integrating the data with other physiological measurements or contextual information for a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s emotional state. Additionally, the device should be comfortable to wear and user-friendly to encourage adoption and use in both research and real-world settings.
5. Write Up on the Pilot
– Methodologies
Pilot Site： Studio Room, Toilet, Cafeteria, Library, Avery Lawn, Wood Auditorium, etc.
Number of Experimenters: 5
Collected Data: 15
For individuals, the device is used with carrier equipment (e.g. iWatch or phone). Users can see the real-time stress changes on the screen, and when the stress exceeds a certain standard, natural music will be played automatically. In this product, we set the standard as a value over 400 or no less than 5% of the baseline average value.
The data stored in the carrier equipment will be transmitted to the Cloud to connect with Sketchfab for 3D visualization. The data will be iterated and updated, assembled to display the 3D GSAPP Stress Map.
Analysis and Visualization/Storytelling of your Data
Click the link above.
Lessons Learned
Tech:
After we kept developing our project, we learned that there is no one absolutely accurate way to test human stress levels. In fact, stress is a complex phenomenon that involves both physiological and psychological components, and can be influenced by a variety of factors such as environmental stressors, personality traits, and coping mechanisms.
Therefore, measuring stress levels typically requires a multi-method approach that combines various measures, including self-report questionnaires, behavioral observations, and physiological measures ,such as heart rate variability, cortisol levels, and skin conductance.
And this project we are only using GSR device to test out stress level, it’s not telling the fully story, but it can be an indicator of stress levels.
Design:
Since we realize, there is no way get one 100% precise result of stress test. We turned our view to how let people pay more attention to care about their own stress health and the people around them. Therefore, we are creating the Lion Head Detector as one stress indicator in Avery which could attract people come and play round with it. And the data collection will automatically upload into the Avery Stress May for visualization and public record.
This project is functioning as one journalist, recording the Stress Data (by the Lion and probable) around the Space (Avery Building) and finally presenting the data set in the Avery Stress Map. This is a tool play as entertainment to get people’s curiosity and interest to know something about their stress. It is a for observation, for detection, for visualizing something really important for us but usually been ignored. It is our XXXXX（project name)
6. Urban Interactions
Opportunity:
In order to increase public awareness and understanding of stress and its impact on mental health, it is crucial to provide valuable advice on personal stress management to the general public. By doing so, we can potentially improve overall mental and physical well-being, leading to reduced healthcare costs. Through a platform like ‘Citizen’, we can inform New Yorkers about varying stress levels across different neighborhoods, while also offering a resource for locating local spaces that provide relief from stress. This approach will empower individuals to take charge of their mental health, fostering a more mindful and healthier community.
Challenges:
The challenge in implementing such a platform may include several factors. Privacy concerns related to the collection and dissemination of personal health data must be addressed to protect individuals’ sensitive information. the potential for vandalism or theft of products installed in public spaces must be taken into consideration. And the accuracy and reliability of stress measurement technology must be ensured to provide meaningful insights. Finally, obtaining approval from relevant authorities for installation in public areas may pose difficulties, as requests might be denied.
Imagined Realities
Achieving a city with reduced stress levels and improved mental health outcomes for its residents would yield numerous benefits. By fostering a society that values and prioritizes mental wellness, we can decrease the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage individuals to seek help when needed. Increased support and resources for those struggling with stress and other mental health challenges will contribute to a happier and more productive workforce, ultimately driving improved economic outcomes. By focusing on mental well-being, we can create a more resilient and thriving community.
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