Mindfield eSense Skin Response Installation guide

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eSense Skin Response FAQ
(effective 02/21/2019)
Please consider these tips and tricks before you write Mindfield with a technical question!
Contents
eSense Skin Response FAQ..................................................................................................................1
General FAQ and Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................2
Smart Bulb FAQ (Magic Blue Bluetooth bulb and Philips™Hue™ products) .........................................8
Philips™Hue™FAQ .......................................................................................................................10
SCR explained ...................................................................................................................................12
Overview ......................................................................................................................................12
The 4 Steps in detail......................................................................................................................13

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General FAQ and Troubleshooting
Question 1: How do I perform effective biofeedback-training?
How does the App work?
How do I use my own audio or video?
How should I interpret the measurements?
Please see our extensive tutorial online at www.mindfield.de/en/ on our pages for eSense products:
https://www.mindfield.de/en/Biofeedback/Products/Mindfield%C2%AE-
eSenseSkinResponse.html
Read the guidelines inside the app, when tapping the “I” button.
For using your own videos in the app, please read this information about supported formats:
https://developer.android.com/guide/appendix/media-formats.html
https://www.macxdvd.com/mac-dvd-video-converter-how-to/iphone-6s-supported-
audiovideoformats.htm
If you need to convert existing videos to a compatible format, you can do this with an online video
converter. There are many available in the internet, here is a good example:
http://www.onlinevideoconverter.com/en
Question 1b: Which App do I need and where can I download it?
You need the eSense Universal App which is available for free for Android and iOS.
You can download the App here:
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mindfield.esense
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindfield-esense/id1141032160?mt=8
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073VPZ97R

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Question 2: The values for the eSense Skin Response are very small (below 1.0 µS). What can I do
to improve the quality of measurement?
If you have dry or calloused hands, it is a good idea to use skin lotion before using the eSense. If you
do this, make sure to do this every time so that the measurements are comparable. You can also try
to slightly moisten your hands with water.
In some rare cases the values can remain very low (1.0µS), in spite of the measurement working in
principle, displaying at least very small changes in value. In this case we recommend using one-way
ECG electrodes. They provide a much stronger contact with the skin. You can apply these electrodes
to multiple locations of your hands as displayed in the pictures.
You can purchase 50 disposable gel electrodes (size suitable for adults and children) for € 12.90. You
can order on our online shop at https://mindfield-shop.com/accessories/electrodes/emg-
ecgedasingle-use-electrodes-for-adults-with-comfortable-breathable-fabric-pre-geled-50-
pieces.html.
If this produces no changes, or the measured value is completely constant, please proceed with
question 6.
Question 3: Can I use the eSense with my device?
Please see the pdf document on our products pages (see question 1), under "eSense Compatibility
(sample list) (PDF)".
Question 3b: My eSense does not work with iOS 9 (or higher).
The eSense works through the microphone port. From iOS 9 or higher you have to allow explicitly
that the eSense app may use the microphone port, otherwise it will not work. You are asked for this
during installation, please answer with “Yes” or “Allow”. After installation you can make this setting
manually: Allow the eSense app to use the microphone port in the system settings of your iOS device:
Settings -> Privacy -> Microphone.

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Question 3c: Which iOS devices are supported? Does the eSense work with an iPhone 7, iPhone 8
or iPhone X?
The eSense-devices work with the Apple iPhone from 4S, the Apple iPad from 2nd generation, the
iPad Pro (in combination with a USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter), the Apple iPod touch
from 5th generation and with the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone
XR and iPhone XS (in combination with a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter).
Question 3d: Which Android Devices are Supported?
Android smartphones and tablets from Android 4.4. Your Android device requires a 3,5mm jack
(headphone jack) for external microphones. If you plan on purchasing a device for using the eSense,
we suggest the Amazon Fire 7 as an affordable tablet.
Question 3e: I have an older device which does not work with the eSense App. What can I do?
If your Android version is below of 4.1 or your iOS version is below of 9.0, you can use our former
apps for the Skin Response or Temperature:
eSense Skin Response for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.bottledsoftware.esenseskinresponse
eSense Skin Response for iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/esense-skin-response/id496503504?mt=8
eSense Temperature for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.bottledsoftware.esensetemperature
eSense Temperature for iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/esense-temperature/id502971352?mt=8
Question 3f: Can I also use (Bluetooth-)speakers instead of headphones with the eSense?
The (Bluetooth-)Speakers are blocked by Android and iOS when the eSense is plugged into the
smartphone or tablet. There are two solutions to use external speakers:
You can simply plug in normal speakers via cable into the headphone jack of the eSense. We
recommend the Bose® Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers.
You can also plug in a Bluetooth Transmitter into the headphone jack of the eSense and hence
connect Bluetooth speakers. We recommend the Bose® SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II.

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This solution has been tested by us with the named products and works for 100% without latency.
Question 4: A correctly connected sensor is not recognized by my Android device. The message
"Please buy the sensor" is shown.
Please use the adapter cable that came with the sensor. Please also see the pdf document on our
product pages (see question 1), under the section "eSense Compatibility (sample list) (PDF)". The
adapter cable is necessary only in very few cases. Restart the app or your smartphone again if
necessary, if the sensor is not correctly recognized.
Question 5: The app displays very low (well below 1.0 µS) and very constant values (without
changes). The values do not react at all on stimuli like sudden very deep breathing.
Picture: eSense electrodes have no contact to each other
Sometimes the Velcro electrodes can have a bad contact with the snap buttons. Please turn and
move the electrodes in the snap buttons, and press your fingers strongly against the electrodes to
make a good contact. Try replacing the electrodes with new ones, turn and press to see if you get a
signal. Try another type of electrodes (e.g. gel electrodes)
Try to press the electrodes directly one against another short circuit). This should produce high
values of 7µS and more. This shows that the eSense device is working correctly. If this is the case,
please proceed with question 2.
Question 6: The app displays strongly fluctuating or senseless values.
Please lower the headphone volume of your device. If it is too high, it can disturb the measurement.
Lower it until to the minimum and restart the app. If the problem still occurs, please continue with
question 8.

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Question 7: The app displays a screen telling me that I need a sensor, but the sensor is plugged in.
Please apply the answers to the question above (Question 4 & 6). If this does not help, please apply
the answer of the question below (Question 8).
Question 8: The app still displays strongly fluctuating or senseless values. Touching or releasing the
sensor skin contact does not make a difference.
The sense is apparently not sending any measurements to the app. In this case, the app will show
fluctuating, inaccurate values. Does your device have a 3.5mm headset (including microphone and
headphone) bush? Some Android tablets only have a 3.5mm headphone bush with no microphone
included. Please check the technical specifications of your device.
Please shut down the app. Important: Shutting down the app does not mean only closing it. You also
must also end running program processes in your device's settings and delete current settings
(empty the cache).
Please install the newest version of the app. Plug in the sensor and restart the app.
Please check if directly touching the skin contact (eSense Skin Response) or the temperature sensor
(eSense Temperature) with your hand makes a difference in measurements. If this is not the case,
please continue with question 6 or 10.
Question 9: Which electrodes are working with the eSense?
We offer 4 types of electrodes. Those have different advantages depending on the intended use.
There are Velcro electrodes, Fingerclips (without gel), Gel electrodes and EDA Gel electrodes.
The Velcro electrodes are suitable for the beginning since they are inexpensive, re-usable and easy to
use. The Fingerclips are suitable for the beginning as well, but more comfortable. The Gel electrodes
have a better signal quality due to the gel, but are not re-usable. The EDA Gel electrodes are offering
the most precise measured values and are re-usable, but require more effort in use and
maintenance.
You can find a summary of the different types of electrodes here: Overview electrodes (PDF).
Question 11: Is there a way to extend the cord of the eSense?

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If you wish to use a longer cord between the eSense and your smartphone or tablet, you can extend
the original cord of the eSense with a common, 4-pin, 3,5mm jack headset extension cord. We have
tested 3 cords that have worked:
2m cord: http://amzn.to/2kJwqBM
0,5m cord: http://amzn.to/2kKEONs
110cm cord: http://amzn.to/2jJg1LZ
All three suggested cords cost between £ 6-8 and are available f.i. from Amazon. Alternatively you
should be able to use other 4-pin cords as well.
Question 12: My eSense is still not working. It does not respond if I touch the electrodes or the
thermometer or not. I have turned, pressed and changed the Velcro electrodes without any
resulting improvement in the measurement. I have followed the instructions in question 1 and
taken all other questions in this FAQ into account.
Please check with at least one other smartphone or tablet device to see if your device is specific for
your problem. Please test on an iOS device if possible, as they are known to work fine. For a list of
compatible devices please see the pdf document on our products pages (see question 1), under
"eSense Compatibility (sample list) (PDF)".
If the eSense fails on other devices too (strong fluctuation of values with no reactions) and none of
the above questions helps to generate a good signal, you can exchange the eSense at the retailer
where you purchased your eSense. Please ask the retailer to send the defect device back to the
manufacturer.
If you bought the eSense directly at Mindfield, please follow the return procedure, which you find on
our website at „Support“ => „Return procedure“.

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Smart Bulb FAQ (Magic Blue Bluetooth bulb and
Philips™Hue™ products)
The FAQ for both smart bulbs, the “Magic Blue” and “Philips Hue” in combination with the Mindfield
eSense sensors. Please consider these tips and tricks before you contact Mindfield with a technical
question!
Image 1: Magic Blue Smart Bulb in a round lamp
Image 2: Magic Blue beside retail
packing
Magic Blue FAQ
Question 1: How do I connect to the Magic Blue?
You connect to the Magic Blue from inside the eSense app. To connect to the Magic Blue, open the
eSense app and follow these steps:
1. Choose the eSense sensor you want to use
2. Choose the ‘settings’ (cogwheel symbol)
3. Enable the ‘Smart bulb feedback’ and choose ‘Magic Blue’ as the bulb type
4. Tab on the ‘Choose A Bulb’ button and select the bulb from the list that you want to connect
to
5. (You can also test the chosen bulb by tapping on the ‘Connection Test’ button. If the color of
the bulb changes by this, the bulb is connected.)

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After you have followed these steps, the app will remember the Magic Blue you have chosen (you
usually don’t need to follow these steps again, unless you want to use another Magic Blue).
You should not pair the Magic Blue by the device generic Bluetooth settings. (Attention: If you pair
your bulb that way, you won’t be able to find and select the Magic Blue from inside the eSense app.
If you did so by accident, simply un-pair the Magic Blue from the generic Bluetooth settings and
follow the steps above).
Question 2: What can I do, if connecting to Bluetooth fails or the Magic Blue is not found?
Restart the Magic Blue (switch the switch of your lamp off and on again). Especially if the Magic Blue
is already switched on more than 1 minute, the Magic Blue stops sending the Bluetooth signal to
connect. Restarting activates the signal again and the Magic Blue can be found.
Question 3: Why can’t I find the device when scanning for Bluetooth devices?
Check the light from the Magic Blue to make sure the Magic Blue is switched on. If there is metal
around the Magic Blue (for example a lampshade around the Magic Blue), it could shield the Magic
Blue and block the signal.
Make also sure that the Magic Blue is not connected to another phone or tablet already since the
Magic Blue can just be connected to one phone or tablet at a time (see also next question).
Question 4: How many Magic Blue bulbs can I control at the same time?
You can control one Magic Blue at the same time.
Question 5: How far can the distance between Magic Blue and phone or tablet be?
Usually the range is 18 to 30 meters without any objects in between. It will be less with objects
between the Magic Blue and your phone or tablet (for example a wall between the Magic Blue and
the smartphone or tablet can decrease the range).

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Question 6: Where can I buy the Magic Blue Bulb?
We suggest our shop at https://mindfield-shop.com/en/magic-blue-led-esense.html or Gearbest at
https://www.gearbest.com/smart-light-bulb/pp_230349.html
Philips™Hue™FAQ
Question 1: Which products from Philips Hue can I use with the eSense app?
In general, all Philips Hue products are compatible with our eSense App and therefore can be used
together with the eSense. We tested the most common products:
•Philips Hue White
•Philips Hue White Ambiance
•Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance
•Philips Hue Go (very nice!)
•Philips Hue LightStrips White and Color Ambiance
For the best experience, we recommend the Philips Hue White and Color Ambience, because with
the colors, the feedback can be enhanced more than with only white colors. Especially we
recommend using the Philips Hue Go, as it is mobile with battery and a very nice, complete lamp.
Question 2: How do I connect to the Philips Hue?
You connect to the Philips Hue products from inside the eSense app. As usual with the Philips Hue
products, you need to connect to the Philips Bridge first and then you can choose the individual
bulbs.
To connect to the Philips Hue products, open the eSense app and follow these steps:
1. Choose the sensor you want to use
2. Choose the ‘settings’ (cogwheel symbol)
3. Enable the ‘Smart bulb feedback’ and choose ‘Philips Hue’ as the bulb type
4. Tab on the ‘Change Hue settings’ button
5. Choose the ‘Find Hue Bridge’ tab in the upper right and then choose the plus icon in the
lower right. Follow the instructions.
6. Next you can choose the lamp(s) under ‘Hue lamps’ in the upper left. You see a list of
available lamps and you can choose each with the tick right next to it. Selected lamps light
up, deselected turn off.

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7. (You can also test the chosen bulb by tapping on the ‘Test’ button. If the color of the bulb
changes by this, the bulb is connected)
8. When you have chosen the bridge and the lamp(s), you can leave the menu by tapping on
the tick in the upper right corner. The settings are now saved.
After you have followed these steps, the app will remember the Philips Bridge and Hue bulb you have
chosen. You usually don’t need to follow these steps again unless you want to use another Bridge or
another bulb(s).
Question 3: How many Philips Hue bulbs/products can I use with the eSense app?
We have successfully tested up to 9 products/bulbs (mixture of different type of bulbs, Hue Go and
LightStripe). However, from 3 products and more the reaction time of the products/bulbs slows
down significantly (Philips enables a maximum transfer speed of 100ms per signal and per bulb).
Especially if you use several bulbs, a short distance to the Philips Bridge, the bulbs and your
smartphone or tablet becomes more relevant. See also the next question about this.
Question 4: How far can the Philips Hue, the Hue Bridge and the smartphone or tablet be away?
Usually the range is between 30 and 100 meter, depending on the environment. The range is less
with objects in between (for example a wall in between can decrease the range). Also, if the Hue
Bridge and your modem should be in another floor level, it can influence the range.
However, the transmission of the signal by Philips is good enough so that there weren’t any problems
with our tests in normal households with the signal. Just from 4 (and more) bulbs at the same time a
recognizable lag can occur, see also the question above about this.
Question 5: Where can I buy the Philips Hue products?
You should find the Philips Hue products in every well-sorted electronic store. You can also order
online. A list of the on- and offline-merchants can be also found on the page of the Philips Hue:
https://www2.meethue.com/en-us
We suggest one of the starter kits from Philips for the use with the eSense. This also contains a
colored bulb (‘White and Color Ambience’): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y3QXSGX
We recommend the “Hue White and Color Ambience” for the best experience because with the
colors, the feedback can be enhanced more than with only white colors.

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SCR explained
This is an explanation how the Mindfield eSense App measures and calculates the SCR (Skin
Conductance Response) for the eSense Skin Response.
Overview
The whole process of detecting and calculating the SCR is a cycle of four steps:
1. Listening state
2. Determining if the signal raise is really a SCR
3. Gathering and calculating SCR and listening asynchronously for SCR recovery phase
4. Initiate recovery phase and end of fluctuation
Listening state
Gathering and calculating SCR
(fluctuation) and listening
asynchronously for SCR
recovery phase
Determining if the
signal raise is
really a SCR
state
Initiate recovery
phase and end of
fluctuation

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The 4 Steps in detail
1. Listening state
The cycle starts in the first step, the listening state. This is the standard default state.
2. Determining signal raise
There are two ways for detecting the start of an SCR start. The values could either raise slowly with a
small step or very fast with a big amplitude. This creates the following to conditions:
1. The signal is constantly rising for 2 seconds
2. The difference between the current signal and the pretended base value (the value that is
considered to be the first value in the rising signal. But on this stage, it is not confirmed yet
as a base value) is greater than 0.5 micro siemens.
In simple words the app will react to a sudden signal raise and confirm it as the fluctuation
start and will not wait for 2 seconds (as in the first condition above)
If the signal will fall just even 0.1 micro siemens during a raise, the app will drop out of this second
step and return to the first step (the listening state) again. Otherwise it will continue with the next
two steps 3 and 4.
3. Gathering and calculating SCR (fluctuation)
If one of the two conditions from the second step above are met, the app enters this third step, the
fluctuation. The first signal of the fluctuation period is the base value of a fluctuation signal. During
the whole fluctuation period, the app is detecting the amplitude which is constantly changing. Then
the app starts to calculate the SCR events globally and within a one-minute time window. This results
in the SCR/min value.
4. Initiate recovery phase
The fluctuation is considered to enter the recovery phase (the end of fluctuation) when the signal
falls for more than 50% of the greatest amplitude of the fluctuation period.
This is also the step where the color in the graph is changed (based on the quantity of SCR events
that were occurring). The colors for the SCR background are also calculated (by dividing time
intervals into equal segments and getting the sum of the SCR events from each segment).