Do Algorithms Care?' is an interdisciplinary collaboration between artist Amanda Bennetts (AU) and data scientist Johanna Einsiedler (AT). At the core of this project is an N=1 study, typically challenged in scientific circles for its limited generalizability, yet here serves as a critical methodological pivot. Using a DIY smartwatch and EMG (electromyography) and MMG (mechanomyogram) sensor kits, the duo engage in self-monitoring to collect their physiological data. This personalized data collection reflects a methodological shift in research practices, emphasizing the need for individual agency to manage and use biodata. The sensor measurements, smartwatch data and results from a wellbeing questionnaire are fed into a machine-learning model, developed to predict subjective fatigue.
More about the project | The Study | Research | Protocol |Podcast
DIY Instructions: Apricot Sensor-Kit N2 | Nectar Core Watch | Open Source Code
The Quantified Self: N=1 | N=2