PulseCode

A silent communication system driven by your heartbeat.

1. PROJECT CONTEXT

What if we can break the existing interaction design paradigm, and interact without explicit input? What if our bodies could speak through their own invisible signals? What if we have an action-less system? No clicks, no gestures — only involuntary physiological responses.

Biosignals represent a form of non-verbal, non-performative communication—what the body “says” before the mind filters. In a world full of clicks, gestures, and commands, biosignals offer an action-less interface—something that doesn’t need to be performed, only sensed.

HRV reveals not just that we’re alive, but how we’re feeling.

HRV is the variation in time between heartbeats—a subtle, yet powerful indicator of emotional and physiological state. Low HRV is often linked to stress, anxiety, cognitive load, while high HRV correlates with relaxation, focus, adaptability. Unlike raw pulse data, HRV offers a dynamic emotional fingerprint—a signal that reflects inner rhythm shifts over time.

2. SYSTEM DESIGN

PulseCode operates through a three-step pipeline: the user’s heart rate variability (HRV) signal is captured in real time, transformed into a binary stream through threshold-based modulation, and then translated into Morse code—a system of dots and dashes. These rhythmic pulses are finally rendered as legible text.

In this system, dots and dashes are not merely units of information—they are echoes of the body. The short and long signals mirror the natural variability of the heart, turning biological rhythm into meaningful syntax. This mapping from invisible emotion to visible code allows the body to “speak” without words, creating a new mode of silent communication.

Morse code, historically used for long-distance messaging in moments of crisis or connection, becomes here a metaphor for presence: an abstract language carried by the pulse, quietly bridging one self to another.

3. EXPERIENCE

The earlobe sensor is a lightweight, non-invasive device designed to detect pulse signals through subtle changes in blood volume. By placing it gently on the earlobe, it continuously captures real-time heartbeats—translating your body’s rhythm into digital signals for further interpretation.

PulseCode begins with a shared moment. Two participants wear earlobe pulse sensors that detect their heart rate variability (HRV) in real time. Once activated by pressing the spacebar, the system captures rhythmic fluctuations from each individual’s body.

These subtle rhythms are translated into binary values, which are then modulated into Morse code. The resulting dots and dashes form a sequence of signals—visual or sonic—that carry meaning without words.

This silent system transforms the invisible into the expressive, allowing your physiological state to become a language of its own.

INFORMATION CONTACT