The UX Book by Hartson Rex Pyla Pardha S. & Partha S. Pyla

Author:Hartson, Rex, Pyla, Pardha S. & Partha S. Pyla
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780123852427
Publisher: Elsevier Science
Published: 2013-01-10T16:00:00+00:00

Bio-metrics to detect physiological responses to emotional impact

The use of instrumented measurement of physiological responses in participants is called biometrics. Biometrics are about detection and measurement of autonomic or involuntary bodily changes triggered by nervous system responses to emotional impact within interaction events. Examples include changes in heart rate, respiration, perspiration, and eye pupil dilation. Changes in perspiration are measured by galvanic skin response measurements to detect changes in electrical conductivity.

Such nervous system changes can be correlated with emotional responses to interaction events. Pupillary dilation is an autonomous indication especially of interest, engagement, and excitement and is known to correlate with a number of emotional states (Tullis & Albert, 2008).

The downside of biometrics is the need for specialized monitoring equipment. If you can get some good measuring instruments and are trained to use them to get good measures, it does not get more “embodied” than this. But most equipment for measuring physiological changes is out of reach for the average UX practitioner.

It is possible to adapt a polygraph or lie detector, for example, to detect changes in pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity that could be correlated with emotional responses to interaction events. However, the operation of most of this equipment requires skills and experience in medical technology, and interpretation of raw data can require specialized training in psychology, all beyond our scope. Finally, the extent of culture independence of facial expressions and other physiological responses is not entirely known.

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