WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

CANDIDATE NUMBER : 260771

1. INTRODUCTION

In today's fast-paced and demanding world, stress and anxiety have become pervasive issues,
especially among students. The pressures of academic performance, social interactions, and personal
challenges can often take a toll on their mental well-being. Recognizing the importance of addressing
this growing concern, innovative wearable technologies have emerged as potential solutions for stress
and anxiety management. To tackle this, I would like to propose a wearable technology – Stress and
Anxiety detection wristband.

The Stress and Anxiety Detection Wristband aims to provide real-time insights into their stress levels
and help them proactively manage their emotional well-being. By utilizing advanced sensors and
algorithms, this wearable device monitors various physiological and movement indicators to detect
and quantify stress and anxiety levels accurately. It serves as a personal companion, empowering
students with the knowledge and tools needed to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle amidst
the challenges they face. In this essay, we will conduct a feasibility analysis, delve into the conceptual
design, and present a proof of concept for a Stress and Anxiety Detection Wristband. We will explore
the market demand for such a device, assess the technical and design feasibility, analyse the
associated costs, and consider ethical considerations. Additionally, we will outline the key components
of the conceptual design, including sensor integration, data processing and analysis, user interface,
and connectivity features.

2. FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS

2.1 MARKET ANALYSIS

The market for stress detection devices is growing rapidly, especially among the new generation. The
global market for stress testing solutions is expected to grow by 2.46 billion dollars between 2021 and
2025 and this growth will be driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.67%
(ReportLinker, 2022). This growth is being driven by several factors, including the increasing
prevalence of stress among students, the growing awareness of the negative effects of stress on
student health and academic performance, and the development of new and innovative stress
detection technologies. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 62% of college
students reported feeling stressed daily. This stress can have a negative impact on students’ health,
academic performance, and overall well-being. An article published by ‘made of millions’ stated that
several studies show the negative impact of stress and burnout on employee productivity and
performance. It also discusses the financial costs of employee mental health problems, which can
include absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover.

2.2 EXISTING PRODUCTS

In recent times, smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series, Fitbit, Samsung, and Garmin have
introduced stress detection as one of their features. These smartwatches offer a range of
functionalities and are known for providing good value for money, with costs ranging from £100 to
£600. However, the stress-detecting wristband I propose aims to prioritize medical-grade precision
and accuracy while maintaining an affordable price. Affordability can be achieved here as the product
is minimally complex, with fewer sensors and no need for a high-end chipset for most of the
computational processing. Unlike other smartwatches, this wristband would solely focus on stress and
anxiety detection.

2.3 TARGET AUDIENCE

The main idea behind this product is to cater to larger organizations. For instance, schools and colleges
could provide this wristband to each student to gain insights into their individual stress levels. The
collected data would be shared exclusively with the school's health department and the parents of
the students, ensuring privacy and confidentiality. Similarly, in a workplace setting, the wristband
could assist in identifying employees experiencing high levels of stress and provide them with the
necessary support and assistance. Since this product is tailored to organizations, it could be introduced
as a product service rather than being directly sold in the market. This approach allows organizations
to access the benefits of stress detection without the need for individual purchases. By focusing on
the specific needs of organizations and offering a cost-effective solution, this stress-detecting
wristband could serve as a valuable tool for monitoring and addressing stress levels in various settings.

2.4 LEGAL/ETHICAL ANALYSIS

From a legal standpoint, issues such as data privacy, consent, and compliance with applicable
regulations come into play. Organizations must ensure that the collection, storage, and processing of
stress data adhere to relevant data protection laws. Clear policies and procedures should be
established to obtain informed consent from individuals wearing wristbands and to handle the data
securely. Additionally, any potential sharing of data with third parties, such as health departments or
parents, must align with legal requirements and respect individual privacy rights.

Ethically, the use of stress data must prioritize individuals' well-being and autonomy. It is essential to
obtain voluntary and informed consent, ensuring individuals understand the purpose, risks, and
benefits of wearing the wristband. Transparency about the data's use, protection measures, and the
ability to opt out should be emphasized. The collected data should be anonymized and aggregated
whenever possible to protect individual identities. Ethical considerations also extend to potential
biases, discrimination, and unfair treatment based on stress data. Organizations must guard against
stigmatization or negative consequences for individuals identified as experiencing high-stress levels.
Robust policies and safeguards should be in place to prevent misuse or discrimination related to the
stress data.

2.5 DIFFUSION OF THE PRODUCT

Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DoIT) is a sociological theory that explains how new ideas and
technologies spread through a social system. The theory was developed by Everett Rogers in the
1960s, and it has been used to study the adoption of new products, services, and technologies in a
variety of settings, including business, education, and healthcare (Ou.edu., 2019)
The DoIT theory identifies five main categories of adopters or individuals who adopt a new idea or
technology as shown in Fig 1:

• Innovators: First to adopt a new idea or technology. They are typically young, well-educated,
and have a high degree of social status.
• Early Adopters: Next group to adopt a new idea or technology. They are typically opinion
leaders, and they are often seen as being ahead of the curve.
• Early Majority: The early majority are the third group to adopt a new idea or technology. They
are typically more cautious than innovators and early adopters, and they tend to wait until
they see that the new idea or technology is successful before they adopt it.
• Late Majority: The late majority are the fourth group to adopt a new idea or technology. They
are typically even more cautious than the early majority, and they often wait until they see
that the new idea or technology is widely adopted before they adopt it.
• Laggards: Laggards are the last group to adopt a new idea or technology. They are typically
very traditional, and they often resist change.

Fig 1: Adopter categorization based on innovativeness.

The proposed wristband for organizational use falls into the early adopter’s category as it offers a
novel approach to monitoring stress levels within educational institutions or workplaces.
Organizations prioritising employee/student well-being and proactively addressing stress-related
issues are more likely to be early adopters of this product.

As the product gains traction and demonstrates its effectiveness, it has the potential to move into the
"Early Majority" stage, where a larger portion of organizations begin adopting it. The key factors
influencing the diffusion and adoption of the product will include its proven benefits, cost-
effectiveness, ease of implementation, and alignment with legal and ethical considerations.

2.6 SOCIO/ECONOMIC FACTORS

From a societal perspective, the wristband can contribute to better mental health awareness and
support. It enables schools to gain insights into the stress levels of students, allowing for targeted
interventions and improved overall well-being. Similarly, in the workplace, identifying employees
experiencing high levels of stress can lead to early interventions, reducing the risk of burnout and
enhancing productivity.
Economically, the wristband can help organizations save costs associated with absenteeism, reduced
productivity, and healthcare expenses resulting from stress-related issues. By addressing stress
proactively, organizations can create a healthier and more productive workforce. Additionally, the
product can create job opportunities in software development, data analysis, and support services
related to stress management. The implementation of the stress-detecting wristband may also raise
ethical considerations, such as data privacy and consent. Organizations must ensure transparent
communication and strict privacy policies to address these concerns, fostering trust among users.

3. CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

3.1 HARDWARE

Hardware is of paramount importance in the conceptual design of a product. It enables functionality,

reliability, and performance by providing the necessary physical interfaces, processing capabilities,
and sensor integration. Well-designed hardware components enhance the user experience through
considerations such as ergonomics and user interfaces. For building the proposed device, major
hardware components would be as follows.

Battery: The battery plays a crucial role in powering our device. It provides the necessary energy for
the microcontroller, sensors, and other hardware components to function efficiently. In this product,
a Lithium Ion Battery of 65mAH/ 3.6V will be chosen. This is an ideal voltage range for the working of
the microcontroller and sensors.

Microcontroller: The microcontroller serves as the brain of our proposed device, responsible for
controlling and coordinating its various functions. It will handle data processing, sensor integration,
and communication with other components. Several types of microcontrollers are used in smart
watches for various purposes, for this purpose I will be choosing Arm 32-bit Cortex M-4
microcontroller. The Arm 32-bit Cortex-M4 microcontroller is a powerful and efficient embedded
processor widely used in various applications. It offers a rich feature set designed to meet the
demands of real-time and low-power systems.

The Cortex-M4 core incorporates a high-performance

32-bit processor with a Harvard architecture, a single-
cycle multiply-accumulate (MAC) unit, and a hardware
floating-point unit (FPU). These features enable the
efficient execution of complex mathematical
operations, making it suitable for signal processing,
digital control, and other computation-intensive tasks.
Additionally, the Cortex-M4 microcontroller provides a
wide range of peripherals and interfaces, allowing for
flexible system integration and connectivity with
external devices. Its combination of performance, low
power consumption, and extensive ecosystem support
makes it a popular choice for embedded systems
development. A Cortex M-4 has various kinds of
chipsets, since I am looking for an affordable design, I would go for a chip which is not very expensive
at the same time saves the purpose.
In order to utilize Python programming for our software algorithm, it is necessary for our
microcontroller to be compatible with Micro Python. The CC3230SF microcontroller, developed by
Texas Instruments, appears to be well-suited for this purpose. This microcontroller not only supports
Micro Python but also includes built-in Wi-Fi functionality, eliminating the need for an additional Wi-
Fi module to be attached.

Sensors: The 2 major sensors used in here are the PPG sensor and the EDA sensor. A study done by
Smith, N. (2020) showed that PPG and EDA sensors gave the highest accuracy results in measuring
signals related to stress.

To find PPG signals I propose the use of AFE4900 from Texas Instrument. The AFE4900 device is an
analog front-end (AFE) for synchronized electrocardiogram (ECG), photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal
acquisition. The device can also be used for optical bio-sensing applications, such as heart-rate
monitoring (HRM) and saturation of peripheral capillary oxygen (SpO2). The PPG signal chain supports
up to four switching light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and up to three photodiodes (PDs). The LEDs can be
switched on using a fully integrated LED driver. The current from the photodiode is converted into
voltage by the trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) and digitized using an analog-to-digital converter
(ADC). The ECG signal chain has an instrumentation amplifier (INA) with a programmable gain that
interfaces to the same ADC. A right-leg drive (RLD) amplifier set can be used to the bias for the ECG
input pins. AC and dc lead-off detect schemes are supported. The ADC codes from the PPG and ECG
phases can be stored in a 128-sample first in, first out (FIFO) block and read out using either an I2C or
a serial programming interface (SPI) interface (TI.com).
Electrodermal activity (EDA) measurements are made by detecting changes in electrical (ionic) activity
caused by changes in sweat gland activity. The electrodes used to measure EDA must be sensitive to
these changes and able to transmit the information to a recording device. Most modern EDA
electrodes have a silver-chloride (Ag/AgCl) contact point with the skin. Ag/AgCl electrodes are used
because they are inexpensive, durable, safe for human contact, and accurately transmit the signal
from the ionic activity. Some electrodes come pre-packaged with ionic gel, which can improve signal
fidelity. Alternatively, the ionic gel can be applied to the electrodes to achieve the same effect. In
either case, the signal is transmitted through the electrode to a wire (usually a lead) that carries the
information to the EDA device (imotions.com).

3.1 SOFTWARE

The software aspects of the proposed stress-detecting wristband play a crucial role in its functionality
and effectiveness. Firstly, the wristband would require robust algorithms for analysing physiological
signals and identifying stress patterns. These algorithms would be designed to process the sensor data
collected by the wristband, extract relevant features, and classify stress levels accurately. Additionally,
a user-friendly web application would be developed to provide a seamless interface for users and
administrators. The application would allow individuals to view their stress levels over time, access
personalized stress management recommendations, and receive alerts for extreme stress episodes.
Administrators, such as school health departments or organizational wellness teams, would have
access to a centralized dashboard to monitor aggregated stress data, identify trends, and provide
targeted support. An example of the setup would be as depicted below in Fig 2.

Fig 2: Conceptual Model (Empatica E4)

For the cloud data base we can use Amazon Web Services. It is a comprehensive cloud computing
platform provided by Amazon. It offers a wide range of services such as computing power, storage,
databases, networking, and more. With AWS, businesses can easily scale their infrastructure, access
on-demand resources, and leverage a secure and reliable cloud environment for their applications and
data.

To ensure data privacy and security, stringent measures would be implemented, such as encryption
protocols, user authentication, and adherence to data protection regulations. The software
infrastructure would be scalable to handle a large number of users and accommodate future
enhancements or integrations with existing organizational systems.

3.3 DESIGN IN BRIEF

The wristband will resemble a standard smartwatch but without a display. It will be equipped with a
Wi-Fi module to enable connectivity to Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, when selecting the microcontroller
for the wristband, it is crucial to choose one that has an integrated wireless module. The product
operates by continuously monitoring PPG and EDA signals while it is worn. These signals are processed
using an algorithm stored in the flash memory of the wristband. The resulting output is then
transmitted via Wi-Fi to the cloud. The collected data is analyzed and visualized on a web API,
providing insights into individuals experiencing higher levels of stress and suggesting appropriate
support measures. To ensure privacy and security, parents can access a specific API portal to monitor
their children's well-being. It is important to note that the API is a secure HTTPS portal with robust
encryption measures in place, guaranteeing the safety and confidentiality of the data.

4. PROOF OF CONCEPT

In order to prove the concept of the product, A predictive model needs to be build that takes the
input from the sensors and predicts the corresponding state of the person

4.1 ENVIRONMENT

The classification system was implemented using the Python Machine Learning Library. All
experiments were conducted on a standard computer with an Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8265U CPU @
1.60GHz and 8 GB of memory running a Windows 11 64-bit operating system.

4.2 DATASET

To evaluate our classification system, I used the WESAD (Wearable Stress and Affect Detection)
dataset, which contains data collected from two types of wearable sensors: RespiBAN and Empatica
E4, a chest-worn and wrist-worn device, respectively. In this experiment for testing purposes, I used
the RespiBAN data because the Empatica E4 data was incomplete. I only focused on the data that we
plan to use on our wearable device, which is EDA. We do not have PPG signal values in RespiBAN, so
the primary data point in this analysis will be EDA. The labels 0,1,2,3,4 depict the stress categories :
baseline, Fun, Meditation 1, TSST(Trier social stress test), Meditation 2. This can be found in the
WESAD dataset as well.

4.3 EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS

Since the dataset is quite large, I have imported data from 3 subjects: S1, S2 and S3. The files were in
the pickle format. Hence pickle library was used to import the data into Python. Exploratory data
analysis (EDA) is a method for examining and summarizing the main characteristics of a dataset. It
helps us understand the statistics of the dataset, its variables, and relationships, identify anomalies,
and discover patterns. Before conducting any data analysis or modelling, it is important to verify the
data types and ensure that the data is free of null values.

Once I made sure that the data set is free of null values, I did not need to remove any data or fill in
any blanks. However, it is important to check that the data does not contain any outliers and that all
data is valid and suitable for the machine-learning model. To get a better understanding of the data
values for each feature, I took a quick look at the statistics of the dataset. This helps us to get a brief
understanding of the dataset. In our data analysis, we are focusing on electrodermal activity (EDA)
data, so I removed the columns for environmental sound (ESG) and respiratory data. We now have a
final dataset on which we will implement our machine learning algorithm. Our feature variables are
EDA, data from the accelerometer, and temperature sensor.

A quick comparison of the EDA data for the subjects

shows that the EDA data is highly variable. This
means that the reason for stress and factors for
each subject could be very different. This is a major
takeaway from this data, as it highlights the
limitations of sensor data. It also shows that very
high accuracy cannot be achieved when modelling
data from multiple subjects.

Correlation Matrix: A correlation matrix is a

statistical tool that shows the strength and
direction of the relationship between two or more variables. To understand the relationship
between the variables in our dataset, I used Pearson's correlation coefficient and plotted the results
as a heatmap using the Seaborn library, as shown in Figure 3.

Fig 3: Correlation matrix of subject S2

4.4 MACHINE LEARNING MODEL

Before working on the Machine learning model, it is important to do the necessary pre-processing to
make sure the model gives better and more accurate results. Data pre-processing is an essential step
in machine learning because it directly affects the model's ability to learn and the quality of the
information extracted from the data. This includes tasks such as cleaning the data, removing outliers,
and transforming the data into a format that the algorithm can understand. If the data is not clean,
the model may learn incorrect patterns and make inaccurate predictions. Outliers can also skew the
results of machine learning algorithms, so it is important to remove them before training the model.
To check for outliers in a dataset, we can easily visualize them using a boxplot. The boxplot will show
us the median, quartiles, and outliers of the data. In this dataset, we can see that there are several
outliers. This is not unexpected, as sensor data often contains outliers. To remove the outliers and
normalize the dataset, I created two functions: remove_outlier and norm. The remove_outlier
function uses the IQR (interquartile range) method to identify outliers. The IQR is calculated as the
difference between the third and first quartiles. Outliers are then identified as values that are less
than the first quartile minus 1.5 times the IQR or greater than the third quartile plus 1.5 times the
IQR. By using the IQR method, we can identify and potentially remove outliers from a dataset. This
can help to ensure more accurate and reliable data analysis and modelling.

Test-Train Split: The Train-Valid-Test split technique is commonly used to evaluate the performance
of machine learning models. It involves dividing the dataset into two parts: the training set, which is
used to teach the model by fitting parameters and the test set, which is used to provide an unbiased
evaluation of the final model.

4.4.1 QUADRATIC DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS

Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) is a classification algorithm that assumes each class has its own
covariance matrix. It is a generative model that estimates the parameters of multivariate Gaussian
distributions for each class. QDA calculates the class probabilities based on Bayes' theorem and assigns
the most probable class label to new data points. Unlike Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), QDA
allows for different covariance structures among classes, making it more flexible in capturing complex
relationships. QDA is particularly useful when dealing with nonlinear decision boundaries or when
classes have distinct covariance matrices. It requires training data to estimate class parameters and
can be evaluated using various metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score (Scikit-learn).

QDA Scores of each subject

0.98

0.96

0.94

0.92

0.9

0.88

0.86

0.84
S2 S3 S4

Accuracy Precision Recall F1 - Score

From the above statistics we can infer that this model is not highly precise. But gives substantial results
with scores ranging from 88% to 97%. It was interesting to note that the QDA algorithm was
computationally very cheap and prove to be very quick in predicting the target variables. The
algorithm was applied on all 3 subjects to get an understanding of the scores.
4.4.2 RANDOM FOREST CLASSIFICATION
Random forest is a machine learning method that can be used for both classification and regression
tasks. It is an ensemble learning method that builds a collection of decision trees and uses averaging
to improve predictive accuracy and control overfitting.

Ensemble learning methods combine multiple models to create a more accurate and robust model
than any single model could be. In the case of a random forest, each decision tree is trained on a
random subset of the data. This helps to prevent overfitting, which is a problem that can occur when
a model is trained on too much data. The averaging of the predictions from the individual decision
trees in a random forest helps to improve the predictive accuracy of the model. This is because the
predictions from the individual trees are often different and averaging them out can help to reduce
the variance in the predictions. Random forest is a powerful machine-learning method that can be
used for a variety of tasks. It is relatively easy to implement and can be used with a variety of data
types. The random forest has been shown to be effective for a variety of tasks, including classification,
regression, and forecasting (Scikit-learn, 2018).

When the Random Forest Algorithm was executed on subject S2, it required a substantial
computational time of 52 minutes, indicating its high computational expense. Despite this, the random
forest model exhibited excellent performance, achieving an accuracy score of 0.99, precision score of
0.98, recall score of 0.99, and f1 score of 0.99. These results corroborate the findings presented in
Table 1 of Section 3. Achieving 99% accuracy is highly desirable; however, the significant
computational costs associated with this process may pose challenges for our product's affordability
and may necessitate necessary upgrades.

5. CONCLUSION
The stress predicting wearable device offers immense potential in enhancing mental health awareness
and support. By continuously monitoring physiological signals like PPG and EDA, the device provides
valuable insights into an individual's stress levels. This information can be utilized in various settings,
such as schools or workplaces, to identify and address stress-related issues proactively. The device's
integration with a secure cloud-based API enables data analysis and visualization, facilitating
personalized interventions and support. However, challenges in terms of accuracy, privacy, and data
management need to be addressed for widespread adoption. Overall, the stress predicting wearable
device holds promise in promoting well-being, improving productivity, and fostering a healthier
society.