Lumion Leaf

Project Overview

The rapid pace of urban life often brings with it high stress and emotional strain, impacting the mental well-being of city dwellers. Traditional methods for managing these emotional states, such as meditation and outdoor activities, although beneficial, do not provide immediate relief or continuous support throughout the day. Recognizing the need for a more integrative and responsive approach to emotional wellness, this project introduces an innovative prototype—the “LuminLeaf”.

The LuminLeaf is a technologically advanced installation designed to enhance urban environments by directly interacting with individuals’ emotional states through real-time biofeedback. Utilizing Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) sensors, the LuminLeaf detects subtle changes in an individual’s emotional state, which then triggers interactive elements within the installation to reflect these emotional variations visually and audibly.

Developed through a series of experiments conducted at various locations across Columbia University, the prototype demonstrated significant potential in modifying emotional experiences in real time. Our findings indicate that specific settings, such as libraries or public gathering spaces, have varied impacts on participants’ stress and anxiety levels, which LuminLeaf effectively mitigated through its interactive features.

Furthermore, the LuminLeaf promotes a new form of urban interaction, where individuals can engage with the environment in a way that enhances their emotional well-being. The installation does not store any personal data, ensuring that interactions remain private and unrecorded, thus respecting individual privacy while providing emotional support.

By bridging the gap between technological innovation and mental health, LuminLeaf offers a pioneering approach to enhancing life quality in urban settings, making it a valuable addition to smart city initiatives.

Problem

Living in modern cities often involves significant stress due to economic pressures, leading to psychological and emotional issues that can escalate to depression, anxiety, or even suicide. Thus, the ability to regulate emotions, maintain positivity, and mitigate negativity, is crucial for mental health. Popular emotion regulation methods among urban dwellers include meditation, hiking, and spending brief periods, such as 20 minutes, in a park.

Despite these available methods, individuals may not immediately recognize when they are experiencing negative emotional states or realize the necessity for emotion regulation. Inspired by an iPhone application that tracks emotional changes throughout the day, we aim to develop a product that enhances individual awareness of their emotional states. This product will not only aid in emotion regulation but also foster a supportive environment where others can understand and respond empathetically to these emotional cues. This proactive approach is essential in promoting psychological resilience and well-being in urban environments.

Prototype

The prototype consists of three primary components:
• Arduino box
• Fiber optics and reflective materials
• Black box with a slogan board

The Arduino box contains a light-emitting device and a GSR sensor. The two black finger sheaths extending from the box collect the user’s GSR data. After measuring this data, the system will trigger LED lights of varying colors and may activate the rotation of the Motor Fan.

The fiber optics and reflective materials amplify the light emitted by the LED lights in the Arduino box, enhancing the light transmission and reflection effects. This creates a dynamic and engaging display.

The black box serves to highlight the light display, while the slogan board on top reads, “Understand emotions and feel better with LuminLeaf”, inviting nearby users to engage with the device.

TECHNOLOGY

To monitor people’s emotional status, we relied on the sensor, Galvanic Skin Response, or GSR. It can measure the skin’s electrical conductance, which changes with moisture levels on the skin (e.g. sweating) driven by the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, the sweating response is linked to emotional states like stress or excitement.

For our setup, we incorporated the GSR sensor into a system controlled by an Arduino UNO R3 Controller Board. This board is connected to an LED ring to display various colors and to a fan blade, which is driven by a DC motor and controlled by an L293D motor driver integrated circuit (IC).

Initially, our prototype used several single LEDs connected in parallel. We controlled their brightness collectively using an NPN Transistor PN2222. However, we found that the brightness was insufficient for our needs. To address this, we replaced the single LEDs with an LED ring, which not only provided brighter lighting but also simplified the wiring and connection process.

interactions

LuminLeaf enables versatile local interactions. It accommodates various settings and supports different activities within the same environment. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, it fits comfortably on a table.

In a 1m scale interaction, LuminLeaf’s color changes allow users to track their emotional fluctuations during an activity. This feedback assists in identifying the most suitable space for that specific task. Positioned at the edge of a table, it senses the user’s emotional changes, enhancing personal experiences.

In a 10m scale interaction, within a small classroom with other people, a user’s emotions are visible to others when the LuminLeaf is in use. This visibility may stimulate interactions with the user, influencing the emotional atmosphere.

On a 100m scale, for instance, at a library or outdoor squares, groups can gather around the device for discussions, treating it as an entertainment facility. Individuals can take turns using the GSR sensor to understand their own emotions, adding an element of enjoyment for everyone.

LumionLeaf