PILGRIMAGE

via Sascha Pohflepp and WMMNA

Left: Early attempt at creating a communal arousal surface. The peaks represent arousal hotpoints. Right: Communal arousal surface with name annotations.

Bio Mapping is a research project which explores new ways that we as individuals can make use of the information we can gather about our own bodies. Instead of security technologies that are designed to control our behaviour, this project envisages new tools that allows people to selectively share and interpret their own biometric data.

pics taken from biomapping.net/interview.htm

The Bio Mapping tool allows the wearer to record their Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), which is a simple indicator of the emotional arousal in conjunction with their geographical location. This can be used to plot a map that highlights point of high and low arousal. By sharing and reflecting on this data, we can construct maps that visualise where we as a community feel stressed and excited.

The main mapping tool I currently use is Google Earth. In this visulisation the height of each track point indicates that individuals physiological arousal at that geographic location.

Bear in mind that due to the the level of accuracy of GPS (10-15 meters) as well as the human delay to stimuli, the reaction to certain events may appear to be delayed slightly.

Rotterdam Emotion Map – 12 participants