Geographic Mapping of Emotions

datafr0g writes "New Scientist has an overview of a project that maps emotional responses to geographic locations. Emotions are read from an individual using a Galvanic Skin Response Sensor. This data is combined with that from a GPS Receiver and the results can be viewed with mapping software such as Google Earth to show where the emotional highs and lows of the day traveling were spent. Points of significance on the map could also be tagged with more info by the user, which could make the information even more useful for town planners, architects, etc. From the project site: 'Bio Mapping is a research project which explores new ways that we as individuals can make use of the information we can gather about our own bodies. Instead of security technologies that are designed to control our behaviour, this project envisages new tools that allows people to selectively share and interpret their own bio data.'" I like the concept of architecture designed with emotion in mind, but galvanic skin response might not be the most accurate way to read "emotion" -- it might show that joggers are just as happy as sunbathers.

Comments

Imagined places can change emotion too

[PurifyYourMind]

Years ago at a sports psychologist's office I had these skin-response devices (among other things) attached to me while I was told to close my eyes and imagine being in a relaxing natural setting. It was neat to see my brain activity mapped out on a monitor and change drastically because of those thoughts. So not only do real places affect us, but imagined ones as well.

Re:Imagined places can change emotion too

[shotgunsaint]

I, for one, would love to see comparisons between emotional data gathered from people in real-world locations; people on guided, tour-like meditations of the same locations; and people in self-guided meditations. I've often wondered whether peoples' minds are better equipped to relax themselves than relaxing vacations.

Mapping Fear

[krell]

Here ya go: http://www.waywelivednc.com/maps/historical/cape-f ear.gif

Yay!

[growse]

Every day, we see more and more silly things to do with GPS and Google Earth. I, for one, embrace silliness.

Soon, we'll be able to draw big maps of the earth showing which countries are happier than others. There could be league tables of happiness, angryness, sadness, fear etc. Maybe entire gambling rings....

Dont show to wife

[novus ordo]

"Honey, what is this redlight district?"

Jogging vs. Sunbathing?

[wishus]

it might show that joggers are just as happy as sunbathers.

I would venture to say that joggers are as happy as sunbathers. Maybe I'm outside the norm here, but I'd rather be jogging than sunbathing. Just like I'd rather be coding than watching TV.

There is a feeling you get in the middle of a good run that is euphoric. You feel like you could run forever. It's a happy feeling.

How do they filter out all the noise?

[Chabil Ha']

I don't want to sound like I'm trolling, but what relevence does this acutally have? For instance, the sum of everyone's emotions on a particlar spot I would imagine would equal zero. This is because what makes one person happy, may make another sad, etc. How does any of it make sense through all the emotional noise? For example, the sight of a tall sky scraper may seem like an awe inspiring feat of engineering to one, whilst it is a tearful reminder of the potential destructive force of a rag tag band of terrorists to another. How does all the subjectivity produce any meaningful results?

Slashgeo had this in May

[benj_e]

Slashgeo (a site for us geospatial types) reported this in May. You can see it here.