Scientists Track Moviegoers' Breathing to Sense Emotions

 - May 15, 2016
References: nature & mentalfloss
The Max Planck Institute for Chemistry has found a unique way to track and sense the emotions of moviegoers while they experience a film, by noting the changes in their breathe chemistry during different film styles and scenes. Jonathan Williams is the 'atmospheric chemist' at the facility that helps to utilize vents in cinemas to understand what viewers are feeling when they watch different movies.

The project is a study of breathe in the body as a way to understand the different emotions viewers experience. The team sets up specially engineered vents in cinemas that trap the air circulating in the theatre space. The air is then analyzed using diagnostic tools to understand the bacteria. By extension, the bacteria can be used to understand the collective sentiments of the audience towards the film.