H2 Sensor

2010

Introduction

H2 sensor is a unique interpersonal contact/proximity sensor using electro-magnetic field. Just by carrying the tiny device, it detects human-to-human contact such as shake-hands, hug, high five, cheek kissing and contact in anywhere on the body. The device measures weak electro-magnetic field around the body and its changes.
sensor principle
Fig.1 H2 Sensor principle
There have been many types of contact switch and tactile sensors. All of them, including mechanical switch, photo reflector and pressure sensitive materials, require mounting the device on the contact surface. Therefore they shoul cover a full-body for whole-body contact detection. In contrast, proposed H2 sensor detects human-to-human contacts/distance in anywhere on the body, and not influenced by a clothes, just by carrying the tiny device.

Application

Ether Synthesizer

The Ether Synthesizer converts physical distance between people to electric music. A pair of players can generate their own music by coordinated dance and physical interaction. It looks as if the players generated sound using “ether” around them. The device is light-weight and small, thus players can walk, run and dance freely with no stress.
Ether Synthesizer
Fig.2 System overview of the Ether Synthesizer
Laval Virtual 2011 ReVolution
Fig.3 Demonstration in Laval Virtual 2011

Haptic Nature

This work illuminates dual nature of haptic interaction which arises on the boundary between self and others with the help of novel sensing technology. Visitors are told to feel their way in a dark room wearing a device. Two aspects of contacts with other people are emphasized in two different ways in the room. During the positive period, the pendants blink slowly and softly. When visitors touch each other, the lights of pendants get stronger, lighting up their faces. But the period doesn't last so long. During the negative period, the lights of pendants pulse nervously. If visitors touch each other, a roar echoes in the room with a sharp flash light.
Haptic Nature
Fig.4 Haptic Nature
Electrofringe 2010
Fig.5 Demonstration in Electrofringe 2010

References

Contribution

The projects are the collaborative work with roomoot.

Exhibitions

roomoot
Ether Synthesizer
Laval Virtual ReVolution 2011, Laval, France, April 2011.
Marika Hayashi, Ryuma Niiyama, Akira Tsukimori
Haptic Nature
Electrofringe 2010, Newcastle, Australia, Oct. 2010.