The Emotion Aid is a portable device that communicates the emotions of its user

Many people (especially those with autism spectrum disorders) have difficulty communicating with others around them. It's always a challenge, but it becomes especially noticeable when you can't convey your emotions through body language. If someone can't show they're not in the mood to talk, it can lead to confusing interactions. To help people express their emotions, Stuttgart University students Clara Blum and Mohammad Jafari came up with this wearable device that makes them obvious.

The aptly named Emotion Aid rests on the user's shoulders like a small backpack. The prototype was designed to be attached to a bra, but could be modified to be worn by those who don't use a bra. It has two functions: to detect the emotions of the user and to communicate these emotions. It uses a set of different sensors to detect biometric indicators, such as temperature, pulse, and sweat, to try to determine the user's emotional state. He then transmits this emotional state to the surrounding world with a fan-shaped operated device.

An Arduino Uno Rev3 manages these functions. The input comes from a capacitive humidity sensor, a temperature sensor and a pulse sensor. The Arduino drives the fan mechanism using a small hobby servo. Power comes from a 9V battery. The assembly process is highly dependent on how the device is to be worn, but the description illustrates how to attach the various sensors to a bra. There are many possible variations, which is why the creators of Emotion Aid encourage people to experiment with the idea.

You can read more about the Emotion Aid, which was developed by Blum and Jafari as part of the ITECH master's program at the University of Stuttgart, here on Instructables.