Heartbeat empathy

Ether Beat are compatible garments that sense, process, transmit and receive the ECG wavelength. A singlet (Under Beat) houses the ECG electrodes and connects to either the scarf or the blouse.

The under garments are enabled with ECG sensors and processing equipment while the outer garments house signal processing equipment, small vibration motors, and radio transceivers. The garments receives the heartbeat wavelength of your remote friend/lover/relative and transmits it as vibration through your garment. Using inexpensive wireless components, tests have demonstrated the devices working up to a distance of 25 metres, in an electrically noisy environment. Future prototypes will utilise Bluetooth or similar technology to allow for a more remote 2-way transmission occur.

The project questions whether usage of the apparatus will encourage physiological empathy - the moderation of ones heartbeat to syncopate with that of the remote other; and emotional empathy - the establishment of a remote emotional linkage.

A project by Leah Heiss. Also by Heiss: the Empathy Vest.