Empathic Systems Project
The Empathic Systems Project, is a research group at Northwestern University striving to create a more cognizant mobile computing system. Working with Professor Dinda and the rest of the Empathic Systems Project, I’ve had a major hand in the creation of two tools utilized by the lab.
Shake Detection
The first, built during my junior year at Northwestern University, was an android application and algorithm that accurately detected a shake versus other types of motion. The algorithm utilized a lowpass filter along with an FFT to easily identify specific frequencies in motion of the phone that made sense and could be attributed to a user shaking. Below is an example:
NUSensor
The second project I worked on, during my senior year at Northwestern, was a modular vitals tracking watch. A small group of us were responsible for the initial vetting of technologies and proof of concept software and hardware designs. We worked with everything from the 8051 to a platform put out by Nordic Semiconductors before finally settling with an Arduino variant called the RFduino.
After a quarter’s work, we moved on from proof of concept electronic designs to working with three freshman groups who used our ideas and electronics to create a more refined physical vision of the modular vitals tracking watch as well as an off shoot, a sensor to track how long one has been sitting. During the quarter, I was responsible for giving guidance, answering questions, and making sure the groups had all resources possible to create fantastic ideas. We held bi-weekly workshops teaching the freshman skills such as 3d printing and soldering.
The project is still ongoing at Northwestern University and is currently in the phase of refining the inner electronics design.
The Empathic Systems Project is a research initiative focused on creating a system cognizant of its user through the use of any data that might hint at its user’s mood.
Other Projects:
Engineering Design Innovation with Procter & Gamble
Tellascope
Employee Productivity Solutions
Workflow Efficiency
Global Network Engineer
