The Power of Measuring Emotion: Shimmer Research quantifies reaction to Media

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Dublin, 13th August 2015, Shimmer has successfully conducted the first of its kind Emotional Group Quantification Experiment in conjunction with the Science Gallery, Dublin with over 100 participants taking part.

Shimmer, the leading provider of wearable sensing systems has conducted a group quantification experiment whereby they have identified sub consciously, what happens to our emotions during an experimental screening of short films, by simultaneously measuring skin conductance and heart rate. The experiment has allowed for unprecedented insights into how emotional engagement data can be interpreted providing invaluable subconscious information at an individual level and also within a larger group.

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Numerous market research organisations have now been galvanised by the innovative ways to analyse physiological data from a target market. In recent years, the measurement of emotions has been transformed by the availability of wearable devices that can provide insights beyond the use of traditional and often subjective methods, to obtain unbiased data from an audience. Recently, Shimmer has identified an innovative way to analyse physiological data of a person’s level of engagement that helps to develop new metrics for different applications in the health or wellness space.

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Example heart rate from a subset of subjects. Vertical lines indicate start (orange) and end (grey) times of films

Teaming up with the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, the team organised a series of short films to be shown to participants that would elicit various subconscious reactions. The Shimmer team supplied each participant a wrist worn Shimmer3 Galvanic Skin Response (GSR+) and optical pulse device on arrival. The GSR and Photoplethysmography (PPG) data was logged to the SD card on-board the Shimmer. While the participants watched the films, the GSR+ measured the sweat levels on the skin surface and the PPG measured the blood volume from the blood vessels under the skin. Utilising these factors combined with common signal processing techniques Heart Rate (HR) can be derived.

The commercial applications for this research are numerous, and already evident in the neuro-marketing fields for the optimisation of media content, also in the clinical applications field for Autism, Epilepsy, Anxiety or Sleep Disorders. Shimmer is continually identifying improvements in GSR and PPG signal quality and will have some exciting new developments in this area over the coming months.

About Shimmer

Shimmer is a leading technology company providing clinical grade wearable wireless sensing technology. Our award winning platform enables enterprises to reduce risk, cost, and time to market for sensor based digital health solutions.  Shimmer offers consultancy, design, customisation, and volume manufacture for a full range of wearable sensor technology to provide high quality, scientifically reliable biophysical and movement data in real-time. This unlocks the potential for analysis and interpretation of sensed data specific to the person and creates an unprecedented level and access to personal digital health information, with the goal of improving health care outcomes.
Our technology is trusted and utilised by the world’s brightest start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and leading Universities in over 65 countries worldwide. Deployments include an FDA approved biophysical application in the US, tele-rehab solution in Spain, and player tracking and performance management solution in the UK and Ireland.
Established in 2008, with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and a world class R&D centre in Boston, Shimmer offers wearable wireless sensing technology that overcome the challenges of size, wearability, reliable communications and low power consumption.

Contact Information
Further Information on This Press Release Please Contact:
• Martina Donohue
• Email: mdonohue@ShimmerSensing.com
• Ph: 00353 1 687 5760

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