Technabob » stress

How Stressed Are You? Your Mouse Could Tell You

Hazel Chua — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:30:20 +0000

Most jobs nowadays require at least an hour or so at the computer, whether it’s to type a report or send out an email to a colleague in another office. And when you’re using the computer, you’re also more or less using a mouse along with it (unless you just use laptops and are contented with moving the cursor around with just the touchpad.)

But how would you like it if your computer mouse could do more than just let you click or drag and drop objects on your screen? Researchers from the Tokyo Metropolitan University have come up with a device that’s just about the size of a computer mouse that can tell you just how stressed you are. In fact, they’ve actually built a prototype version inside of a mouse.

It does so by bouncing off infrared light off of your fingers and measuring the bloodflow in your digits. It then analyzes the variations in your circulation. Bloodflow itself isn’t what determines if you’re stressed or not, but a correlation actually exists between the stability of your cardiac rhythm and the amount of certain stress-related hormones in your body.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Who knows, we just might see this technology incorporated into the computer mice of tomorrow. Although personally, I wouldn’t want to know how stressed I am, as it would just probably stress me out even more if I found out.

[DigInfo.TV via Oh Gizmo!]

Biometric Sensors Detect Stress: Electronic Shrink

Lambert Varias — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:13:40 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I usually know when I’m stressed. I don’t need any gadget to tell me that. Looking at a mirror also does the trick. But that doesn’t mean that stress-detecting technology is useless. While I’m pretty sure you can also tell when you’re stressed, sometimes other people don’t. Your boss for example. (Not my boss. He’s great.) That’s why a company called iDesia is promoting it’s BioDynamic Signature technology or BDS, which it claims can detect short-term stress, primarily by monitoring a person’s heart rate.

According to the company, the sensors used in the BDS system can be literally painted onto devices. So your office mouse, your keyboard, hell even the copier can be implanted with the sensor, hopefully leading to a healthier work-environment. Someday even video game controllers may have sensors like these. You know how stressful a round of gaming can be. For now though, it would be great if this technology found its way to Foxconn. You can read more about iDesia’s BDS system on their brochure (pdf).

[via Slashdot & iDesia]

Smartfish’S Motorized Keyboard Aims to Relieve Stress

Range — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:53:32 +0000

CES is a great time to find some interesting ideas. This latest is from Smartfish and it aims to relieve stress by using motors in keyboards.

How does this work? Every so often – depending on your workload, the keyboard slightly moves around so that your wrists don’t ache. This helps avoid stress injuries that come from repetitive use.

I know that I’m using a keyboard almost all of the time, every day, and I know that if you’ve got the wrong posture or aren’t careful enough, you’ll end up with some kind of an injury or pain. Personally, this has never really been an issue, but I can imagine that if you are in front of a screen 10 hours-a-day, typing away, it could be a concern.

It’s either brilliant or ludicrous. The two halves move about and the base subtly vibrates one or twice an hour to massage your wrist. This all depends on the how hard you type and for how long. Whatever it is, it will be available in mid-April for $150 (USD).

[via DVice]

Brando’S Latest Gadgets Are Real Head-Scratchers

Lambert Varias — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:57 +0000

This is like the code that you need to enter in Cid’s rocket in Final Fantasy VII: the only way that you’ll be able to guess the function of these gadgets correctly in one try is if you already know what they are. Ready? Okay what the hell is this?

No, it’s not an unfinished egg beater. No, it’s not a super spaghetti-scooping fork. Give up? Okay then what the hell is this?

Obviously the two are related, but super spaghetti-scooping fork is still a wrong answer (I should patent that idea though). No, it’s not a dwarf’s rake. Give up? Of course you do. They’re “funny tools to ease your tire.” Yeah, that helps no one. They’re head massagers. If that still doesn’t make sense then I’m sorry but that’s all I got.

The girls in the picture seem pretty happy though. Wanna give it a shot? Both the “circular wire” and the “double layers wire” massagers sell for $10 (USD) each at Brando’s online shop. The code is o s x x, btw.

The Neocube is a Magnetic Puzzle O’ Fun

Karen M. — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:40:33 +0000

The NeoCube starts out as a cube made of super-magnetic balls that’s billed as “literally a puzzle with billions of solutions.” Here’s the good news: There are no right answers, just a whole heap o’ magnetic mayhem to be had.

Check out this video of the NeoCube in action. Then, let’s take bets on how many thousands of hours this guy has logged playing with it.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

OK, now try to convince me you don’t want one. Betcha can’t! And even if you can, once I tell you it promises stress relief and dual hemisphere brain stimulation, you will be completely powerless to resist. Don’t believe me? How about another video then?

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

For such a cool and fun-seeming product, I must warn you that the website is extremely janky. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that every other word is in a different font, or the crazy spacing of text, or the weird, new age-y background. But if you simply must must must have a NeoCube then you’ll need to go there to plonk down your $14 (minicube, aka, lamecube IMHO) or your $30 (alpha cube) or your $35 (fabulously named cubetastic pack, which includes a mini and an alpha.)

Are You Looking at My Headgear?

Technabob — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:10:58 +0000

So what do you suppose this strange contraption is? Could it be some kind of thought control device? Perhaps a new version of the Flowbee hair-vacuum? Maybe it’s an alien brain extraction system? Or is it just the latest fashion trend from the runways in Milan?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but this goofy looking helmet is a newfangled head massager. The Head Spa claims to reduce stress and tension by increasing blood circulation and stimulating your scalp through acupressure. It does not claim however, to reduce the level of embarrassment and humiliation you’ll feel wearing it.

According to the product description: “The patented design is lightweight and easy to use while at your office desk, on the morning commute, or while enjoying your evening television program.” I think if you wore one of these on the bus or at work, you’d get hauled off to the loony bin.

If you can manage to get over the stares that’ll come your way, I bet it’s actually pretty relaxing. So head on over to Edmund Scientific and you can strap one on for just $49.95.

The Big Shiny Candy-Like Panic Button

Technabob — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:29:15 +0000

Sometimes you just have one of those stressful days where nothing goes your way. Now you can take out your frustrations using this device that attaches to your computer.

Just open up the cover on the USB Stress Panic Button and smack it with your fist. The $17 Panic Button includes three wacky screen effects which are triggered when you push the giant button. The effects include an exploding screen, a punch the boss game and an Excel spreadsheet that makes it look like you’re actually doing something productive.

Keep in mind that the software only works with Windows PCs, so you’ll only get more frustrated if you connect it to your Mac or Unix machine.

(If you’d rather just smash your computer screen, there’s always this option.)