Busting the mood for food

Researchers at Microsoft have released a report on the development of a ‘smart bra’ with embedded sensors that capture heart rate and respiration as well as skin activity and movement to detect a woman’s stress levels. Designed as a method to combat emotional overeating, the data from the bra is processed and a warning message can be sent to a mobile phone application if the risk of overeating is detected.

The smart bra was configured to capture heart rate and respiration with an electrocardiogram (EKG) sensor; skin conductance with an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor; and movement with a 3-axis accelerometer and a 2-axis gyroscope.

One disadvantage of the bra is that the sensors need to be recharged every three to four hours, which limited how long the bra could be worn. Researchers say more research would be needed before a smart bra ever became a viable product.

While most of the response on social media is one of amusement, some were annoyed with this research, but a Microsoft spokesperson has said the company has no plans to develop a bra with sensors.

The full report is available online at http://www.cs.rochester.edu/hci/pubs/pdfs/FoodMood.pdf.