Technology with Feeling: Kickstarter Gets the PIP

DUBLIN, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The PIP, a device that allows technology to respond to emotional stimulus, launches today on crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/484175508/the-pip-a-biosensor-that-helps-you-relax-through-p Innovated by Galvanic Ltd., (www.galvanic.ie) the PIP - Personal Input Pod™ - is a wireless, hand-held device that uses galvanic skin response to measure an individual's stress level in real time and communicate it via Bluetooth™ to an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. The PIP has already attracted the attention of Cornell University in New York.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130617/NE32943 )

The PIP helps users manage their stress and has future potential to work with other technologies that manages stress directly. The Galvanic team is raising funds to get the PIP into production, expand their suite of entertainment and lifestyle applications and create a software development kit (SDK) for third party developers.

Mark Matthews, Marie Curie Research Scholar, Interaction Design Lab at Cornell University says:
"This type of technology has the potential to positively change how we live... We've been using the PIP on what we call Moodlight, a light that knows how you feel. Research has shown that cultivating a sense of non-judgemental mindfulness of present experience can produce substantial improvements in wellbeing."

The PIP also featured in GAME, an exhibition at Science Gallery in Ireland, demonstrating stress management through play, potentially adding a whole new layer of strategy to existing videogames. The PIP will feature in the GAME tour to Moscow in July.

The PIP gauges emotional states by detecting changes in the ability of the skin to conduct electricity. The PIP's design phase is complete, prototypes have been produced and the device is already receiving phenomenal feedback from trials across the world.

Daragh McDonnell, CTO, Galvanic said:
"PIP is a significant leap forward in terms of what can be done to manage stress but that's just the tip of the iceberg. The PIP undoubtedly has a number of potential usages from day-to-day convenience applications to consumer health benefits to shaking up lifestyle entertainment and gaming. The ubiquitous ownership of smart devices means that so much is possible and we are very excited to get into market and work with other innovators to help us realise PIP's full potential."

SOURCE Galvanic Ltd.