Biosensors go to the movies (pictures)
An audience of 2,300 electronically shares emotional reactions to a provocative series of videos an ad agency screens in Cannes. Here's what they saw at the "Feel the Reel" event.
Nurse demo
At the 2014 New Directors' Showcase at the Cannes Lions conference on Thursday, ad firm Saatchi & Saatchi combined audience emotion measurements with its top picks of new short films. Here, a nurse-attired actor shows off the emotion sensor each audience member wore.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Emotion on display
Graphics showed individuals' reaction to films at the New Directors' Showcase at the Cannes Lions conference. At the lower corners are two individuals whose emotions were shown by the color of the tile on which their chairs were perched.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Green glowing sensor
Studio XO's wrist-mounted emoion sensors glow green when a person's emotions go beyond calm.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Emotion visualization
Elektropastete and Marshmallow Laser Feast developed technology to show dynamically how audience members responded emotionally to the New Director Showreel film clips.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Feel the Reel
The 24th Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors' Showcase was titled "Feel the Reel." The event spotlighted the work of new talent in film, video, and art installations.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Audience awaits New Directors' Showcase
The audience prepares for Saatchi & Saatchi's New Directors' Showcase at Cannes Lions.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Behind the scenes
In the control room behind the scenes, technicals from Studio XO, Marshmallow Laser Feast, Elektropastete, and Prettybird oversaw the New Directors' Showcase with a bank of computers.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Flashing lights
The New Directors' Showcase featured dazzlingly bright lights to startle audience members, part of the emotion sensor calibration process.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Waiting for the show
An actor rehearses her role before the New Directors' Showcase begins.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Emotions, quantified
A 3D plot shows the entire audience's reactions to the films, with spikes corresponding to emotional intensity.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Emotion sensor instruction
The Saatchi & Saatchi event featured a clinical theme in which nurse-costumed actors demonstrated use of the emotion sensors.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Colored emotions
Actors dressed as nurses dramatized the use of Studio XO's emotion sensors.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Studio XO packaging
Studio XO's sensors came in packaging reminiscent of what's used for syringes and bandages.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Studio XO emotion sensor
The emotion sensor, made by Studio XO and sold to ad firm Saatchi & Saatchi, has detectors that press against the skin on the inside of the wrist.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Emotion spectrum
Studio XO's technology logs emotional intensity from calm to aroused, but doesn't distinguish between, say, ecstatic and angry.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel
Emotion on display
Graphics show individuals' reaction to films at the New Directors' Showcase at the Cannes Lions conference.
See related article: Scary or cool? Directors can track how that film makes you feel