Apparatus for detecting human physiological and contextual information

Abstract

The invention comprises an apparatus for determining the contextual or physiological status of the individual wearing the apparatus. The apparatus is designed to be consumable or disposable. In most embodiments the invention comprises an adhesive housing. In some embodiments, two different sensors are secured to the housing. The apparatus is in electronic communication with a processing unit that can derive analytical status data by using the data received from the two sensors. In some embodiments, the processing unit is programmed to control other devices, or is programmed to trigger an event. In still other embodiments, the apparatus is in electronic communication with a separate computing device, which may contain the processing unit.

1 . An apparatus for monitoring an individual's physiological or contextual status, said apparatus able to be disposed of after use, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a housing having a surface, said surface comprising an adhesive material, said adhesive material enabling said housing to be removably attached to selected portions of said individual's body;    b. a first sensor secured to said housing, said first sensor capable of generating heart-related data of said individual;    c. a second sensor secured to said housing, said second sensor capable of generating temperature-related data of said individual; and    d. a processing unit in electronic communication with said first and second sensors, said processing unit programmed to use both of said heart-related data from said first sensor and said temperature-related data from said second sensor to derive analytical status data.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said housing is comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said flexible material is plastic film.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive material is integral with said housing.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive material comprises an adhesive foam material.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an LED emitter coupled with an optical sensor, a strain gauge, a thermistor, a thermopile, a thermocouple, a piezoelectric sensor, a sphygmomanometer, an accelerometer, an electrochemical sensor, a mercury switch array, at least two electrodes, and photo cells.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said heart-related data of said individual comprises at least one of: heart rate data, pulse rate data, beat-to-beat variability data, EKG data, respiration rate data, blood pressure data, and oxygen consumption data.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said second sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a thermistor, a thermocouple, and a thermopile.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises said individual's skin temperature.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises an ambient temperature near said individual.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises said individual's core temperature.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a computing device in electronic communication with said processing unit.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said processing unit is located within said computing device.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said computing device comprises an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control a separate apparatus based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control an interactive electronic media device based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said computing device is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said computing device is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a display means displaying said analytical status data.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said display means is an electrochemical display.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of nutrition.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of sleep.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of activity level.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of stress.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of mind centering.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for monitoring an individual's physiological or contextual status, said apparatus able to be disposed of after use, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a housing having a surface, said surface comprising an adhesive material, said adhesive material enabling said housing to be removably attached to selected portions of said individual's body;    b. a first sensor secured to said housing, said first sensor capable of generating heart-related data of said individual;    c. a second sensor secured to said housing, said second sensor capable of generating data related to said individual's movement; and    d. a processing unit in electronic communication with said first and second sensors, said processing unit programmed to use both of said heart-related data from said first sensor and said data related to said individual's movement from said second sensor to derive analytical status data.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34  wherein said housing is comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein said flexible material is plastic film.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said adhesive material is integral with said housing.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said adhesive material comprises an adhesive foam material.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said first sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an LED emitter coupled with an optical sensor, a strain gauge, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermopile, a piezoelectric sensor, a sphygmomanometer, an accelerometer, an electro-chemical sensor, a mercury switch array, at least two electrodes, and photo cells.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said heart-related data of said individual is at least one of: heart rate data, pulse rate data, beat-to-beat variability data, EKG data, respiration rate data, blood pressure data, and oxygen consumption data.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said second sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an LED emitter coupled with an optical sensor, a strain gauge, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermopile, a piezoelectric sensor, a sphygmomanometer, an accelerometer, an electro-chemical sensor, a mercury switch array, at least two electrodes, and photo cells.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said data related to said individual's movement is at least one of heart rate data, pulse rate data, beat to beat variability data, EKG data, respiration rate data, skin temperature data, core temperature data, heat flow data, galvanic skin response data, EMG data, EEG data, blood pressure data, oxygen consumption, body position data, and muscle pressure data.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said data related to said individual's movement is activity data.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a computing device in electronic communication with said processing unit.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein said processing unit is located within said computing device.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 45  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein said computing device comprises an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control a separate apparatus based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control an interactive electronic media device based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein said computing device is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein said computing device is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 45  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 45  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a display means displaying said analytical status data.  
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59  wherein said display means is an electrochemical display.  
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of nutrition.  
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of sleep.  
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of activity level.  
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of stress.  
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of mind centering.  
     
     
         66 . An apparatus for monitoring an individual's physiological or contextual status, said apparatus able to be disposed of after use, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a housing having a surface, said surface comprising an adhesive material, said adhesive material enabling said housing to be removably attached to selected portions of said individual's body;    b. a first sensor secured to said housing, said first sensor capable of generating data related to said individual's movement;    c. a second sensor secured to said housing, said second sensor capable of generating temperature-related data of said individual; and    d. a processing unit in electronic communication with said first and second sensors, said processing unit programmed to use both of said data related to said individual's movement from said first sensor and said temperature-related data from said second sensor to derive analytical status data.    
     
     
         67 . The apparatus according to  claim 66  wherein said housing is comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 67  wherein said flexible material is plastic film.  
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said adhesive material is integral with said housing.  
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said adhesive material comprises an adhesive foam material.  
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said first sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an LED emitter coupled with an optical sensor, a strain gauge, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermopile, a piezoelectric sensor, a sphygmomanometer, an accelerometer, an electro-chemical sensor, a mercury switch array, at least two electrodes, and photo cells.  
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said data related to said individual's movement is at least one of heart rate data, pulse rate data, beat to beat variability data, EKG data, respiration rate data, skin temperature data, core temperature data, heat flow data, galvanic skin response data, EMG data, EEG data, blood pressure data, oxygen consumption, body position data, and muscle pressure data.  
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said second sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a thermistor, a thermocouple, and a thermopile.  
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises said individual's skin temperature.  
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises an ambient temperature near said individual.  
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises said individual's core temperature.  
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 66  further comprising a computing device in electronic communication with said processing unit.  
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 77  wherein said processing unit is located within said computing device.  
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 77  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 78  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 66  further comprising an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 81  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 77  wherein said computing device comprises an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         84 . The apparatus of  claim 83  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         85 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control a separate apparatus based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         86 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         87 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control an interactive electronic media device based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         88 . The apparatus of  claim 77  wherein said computing device is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         89 . The apparatus of  claim 77  wherein said computing device is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         90 . The apparatus of  claim 78  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         91 . The apparatus of  claim 78  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         92 . The apparatus of  claim 66  further comprising a display means displaying said analytical status data.  
     
     
         93 . The apparatus of  claim 92  wherein said display means is an electrochemical display.  
     
     
         94 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of nutrition.  
     
     
         95 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of sleep.  
     
     
         96 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of activity level.  
     
     
         97 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of stress.  
     
     
         98 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of mind centering.  
     
     
         99 . An apparatus for monitoring an individual's physiological or contextual status, said apparatus able to be disposed of after use, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a housing having a surface, said surface comprising an adhesive material, said adhesive material enabling said housing to be removably attached to selected portions of said individual's body;    b. a first sensor secured to said housing, said first sensor capable of generating heart-related data of said individual;    c. a second sensor secured to said housing, said second sensor capable of generating data related to a change in resistance across said individual's skin; and    d. a processing unit in electronic communication with said first and second sensors, said processing unit programmed to use both of said heart-related data from said first sensor and said data related to a change in resistance across said individual's skin from said second sensor to derive analytical status data.    
     
     
         100 . The apparatus according to  claim 99  wherein said housing is comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         101 . The apparatus of  claim 100  wherein said flexible material is plastic film.  
     
     
         102 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said adhesive material is integral with said housing.  
     
     
         103 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said adhesive material comprises an adhesive foam material.  
     
     
         104 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said first sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an LED emitter coupled with an optical sensor, a strain gauge, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermopile, a piezoelectric sensor, a sphygmomanometer, an accelerometer, an electro-chemical sensor, a mercury switch array, at least two electrodes, and photo cells.  
     
     
         105 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said heart-related data of said individual comprises at least one of: heart rate data, pulse rate data, beat-to-beat variability data, EKG data, respiration rate data, blood pressure data, and oxygen consumption data.  
     
     
         106 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said second sensor comprises at least two electrodes.  
     
     
         107 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said second sensor comprises a GSR sensor.  
     
     
         108 . The apparatus of  claim 106  wherein said at least two electrodes comprise a textured surface.  
     
     
         109 . The apparatus of  claim 107  wherein said GSR sensor comprises a skin contacting surface, said skin contacting surface being textured.  
     
     
         110 . The apparatus of  claim 99  further comprising a computing device in electronic communication with said processing unit.  
     
     
         111 . The apparatus of  claim 110  wherein said processing unit is located within said computing device.  
     
     
         112 . The apparatus of  claim 110  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         113 . The apparatus of  claim 111  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         114 . The apparatus of  claim 99  further comprising an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         115 . The apparatus of  claim 114  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         116 . The apparatus of  claim 110  wherein said computing device comprises an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         117 . The apparatus of  claim 116  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         118 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control a separate apparatus based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         119 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         120 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control an interactive electronic media device based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         121 . The apparatus of  claim 110  wherein said computing device is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         122 . The apparatus of  claim 110  wherein said computing device is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         123 . The apparatus of  claim 111  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         124 . The apparatus of  claim 111  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         125 . The apparatus of  claim 99  further comprising a display means displaying said analytical status data.  
     
     
         126 . The apparatus of  claim 125  wherein said display means is an electrochemical display.  
     
     
         127 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of nutrition.  
     
     
         128 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of sleep.  
     
     
         129 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of activity level.  
     
     
         130 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of stress.  
     
     
         131 . The apparatus of  claim 99  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of mind centering.  
     
     
         132 . An apparatus for monitoring an individual's physiological or contextual status, said apparatus able to be disposed of after use, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a housing having a surface, said surface comprising an adhesive material, said adhesive material enabling said housing to be removably attached to selected portions of said individual's body;    b. a first sensor secured to said housing, said first sensor capable of generating temperature-related data of said individual;    c. a second sensor secured to said housing, said second sensor capable of generating data related to a change in resistance across said individual's skin; and    d. a processing unit in electronic communication with said first and second sensors, said processing unit programmed to use both of said temperature-related data from said first sensor and said data related to a change in resistance across said individual's skin from said second sensor to derive analytical status data.    
     
     
         133 . The apparatus according to  claim 132  wherein said housing is comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         134 . The apparatus of  claim 133  wherein said flexible material is plastic film.  
     
     
         135 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said adhesive material is integral with said housing.  
     
     
         136 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said adhesive material comprises an adhesive foam material.  
     
     
         137 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said first sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a thermistor, a thermocouple, and a thermopile.  
     
     
         138 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises said individual's skin temperature.  
     
     
         139 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises an ambient temperature near said individual.  
     
     
         140 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said temperature-related data of said individual comprises said individual's core temperature.  
     
     
         141 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said second sensor comprises at least two electrodes.  
     
     
         142 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said second sensor comprises a GSR sensor.  
     
     
         143 . The apparatus of  claim 141  wherein said at least two electrodes comprise a textured surface.  
     
     
         144 . The apparatus of  claim 142  wherein said GSR sensor comprises a skin contacting surface, said skin contacting surface being textured.  
     
     
         145 . The apparatus of  claim 132  further comprising a computing device in electronic communication with said processing unit.  
     
     
         146 . The apparatus of  claim 145  wherein said processing unit is located within said computing device.  
     
     
         147 . The apparatus of  claim 145  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         148 . The apparatus of  claim 146  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         149 . The apparatus of  claim 132  further comprising an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         150 . The apparatus of  claim 149  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         151 . The apparatus of  claim 145  wherein said computing device comprises an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         152 . The apparatus of  claim 151  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         153 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control a separate apparatus based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         154 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         155 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control an interactive electronic media device based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         156 . The apparatus of  claim 145  wherein said computing device is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         157 . The apparatus of  claim 145  wherein said computing device is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         158 . The apparatus of  claim 146  wherein processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         159 . The apparatus of  claim 146  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         160 . The apparatus of  claim 132  further comprising a display means displaying said analytical status data.  
     
     
         161 . The apparatus of  claim 160  wherein said display means is an electrochemical display.  
     
     
         162 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of nutrition.  
     
     
         163 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of sleep.  
     
     
         164 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of activity level.  
     
     
         165 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of stress.  
     
     
         166 . The apparatus of  claim 132  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of mind centering.  
     
     
         167 . An apparatus for monitoring an individual's physiological or contextual status, said apparatus able to be disposed of after use, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a housing having a surface, said surface comprising an adhesive material, said adhesive material enabling said housing to be removably attached to selected portions of said individual's body;    b. a first sensor secured to said housing, said first sensor capable of generating data related to said individual's movement;    c. a second sensor secured to said housing, said second sensor capable of generating data related to a change in resistance across said individual's skin; and    d. a processing unit in electronic communication with said first and second sensors, said processing unit programmed to use both of said data related to said individual's movement from said first sensor and said data related to a change in resistance across said individual's skin from said second sensor to derive analytical status data.    
     
     
         168 . The apparatus according to  claim 167  wherein said housing is comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         169 . The apparatus of  claim 168  wherein said flexible material is plastic film.  
     
     
         170 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said adhesive material is integral with said housing.  
     
     
         171 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said adhesive material comprises an adhesive foam material.  
     
     
         172 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said first is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an LED emitter coupled with an optical sensor, a strain gauge, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermopile, a piezoelectric sensor, a sphygmomanometer, an accelerometer, an electrochemical sensor, a mercury switch array, at least two electrodes, and photo cells.  
     
     
         173 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said data related to said individual's movement is at least one of heart rate data, pulse rate data, beat to beat variability data, EKG data, respiration rate data, skin temperature data, core temperature data, heat flow data, galvanic skin response data, EMG data, EEG data, blood pressure data, oxygen consumption, body position data, and muscle pressure data.  
     
     
         174 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said second sensor comprises at least two electrodes.  
     
     
         175 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said second sensor comprises a GSR sensor.  
     
     
         176 . The apparatus of  claim 174  wherein said at least two electrodes comprise a textured surface.  
     
     
         177 . The apparatus of  claim 175  wherein said GSR sensor comprises a skin contacting surface, said skin contacting surface being textured.  
     
     
         178 . The apparatus of  claim 167  further comprising a computing device in electronic communication with said processing unit.  
     
     
         179 . The apparatus of  claim 178  wherein said processing unit is located within said computing device.  
     
     
         180 . The apparatus of  claim 178  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         181 . The apparatus of  claim 179  wherein said computing device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, personal computer, a pager, a personal digital assistant, and a sensor device.  
     
     
         182 . The apparatus of  claim 167  further comprising an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         183 . The apparatus of  claim 182  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         184 . The apparatus of  claim 178  wherein said computing device comprises an input means enabling a user to input additional information related to said individual.  
     
     
         185 . The apparatus of  claim 184  wherein said processing unit is programmed to use said additional information to derive said analytical status data.  
     
     
         186 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control a separate apparatus based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         187 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         188 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control an interactive electronic media device based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         189 . The apparatus of  claim 178  wherein said computing device is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         190 . The apparatus of  claim 178  wherein said computing device is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         191 . The apparatus of  claim 179  wherein said processing unit is programmed to trigger an event based on said analytical status data.  
     
     
         192 . The apparatus of  claim 179  wherein said processing unit is programmed to control, based on said analytical status data, at least one of an interactive electronic media device and a separate apparatus.  
     
     
         193 . The apparatus of  claim 167  further comprising a display means displaying said analytical status data.  
     
     
         194 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said display means is an electrochemical display.  
     
     
         195 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of nutrition.  
     
     
         196 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of sleep.  
     
     
         197 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of activity level.  
     
     
         198 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of stress.  
     
     
         199 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said analytical status data comprises an indicator of mind centering.  
     
     
         200 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein said data related to said individual's movement is activity data.  
     
     
         201 . The apparatus of  claim 167  wherein said data related to said individual's movement is activity data.