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SHUG | SHAKE Users Group

Last updated: 31/08/07

The SHAKE (Sensing Hardware Accessory for Kinaesthetic Expression) is a versatile Bluetooth sensor device developed by SAMH Engineering Services. The SHAKE was designed and built by Stephen Hughes of SAMH Engineering, as a contract for theconsortium composed of the Dynamics & Interaction group (Glasgow University & Hamilton Institute, NUIM), Queen's University Belfast and the FIT Lab, Swansea University.

Drivers for the device are currently available in a variety of languages, including C/C++, Python, Java and C#, and can be used on Windows XP/2000, Windows Mobile devices and Nokia S60.

The main features of the SHAKE hardware are summarised below, taken from the user manual. For a full description of the device and its capabilities, see the full user manual in the Documentation section.

  • Triple axis linear accelerometer with configurable full scale range of either +/-2g or +/-6g and a resolution of 1mg
  • Triple axis Angular Rate Sensor (Gyro) with full scale range of +/- 50 deg/second and a resolution of 0.1 deg / second.
  • Triple axis magnetometer with full scale range of +/- 2 Gauss an resolution of 1mGauss
  • Two-channel external analog input available over the Aux connector for connecting general purpose sensors with a 3V 10mA regulated power source available on the same connector.
  • Two proximity capacitive sensors on the front of the enclosure that can measure human body proximity to a distance of 10mm
  • A three position side navigation switch for general use in the end user's application
  • Compass heading algorithm outputs heading information for any orientation of the SHAKE
  • Integrated programmable vibrating motor with braking capability allowing the display of immediate haptic feedback to gestures or other stimuli
  • In-built 64Mbit of FLASH memory for data recording/logging
  • Accurate builtin real time clock (RTC) for precise time stamping of data samples or events
  • Effective resolution on all sensor channels is greater than 12 bits
  • All sensor channels samples at 1kHz
  • All sensor channels can have the output data rate adjusted between 25Hz and 256Hz with tracking linear-phase or minimum-phase filtering to better than -50dB stopband attenutation
  • Output data rate for all channels can be adjusted between 1Hz and 256Hz with digital filtering disabled
  • Two internal expansion slots for add-on modules such as the triple axes angluar rate sensor SK6-GO1, or external vibration driver module SK6-V01
  • Firmware upgradeable over the Bluetooth radio or using the SK6-USB adapter cable
  • Dimensions just 53.6mm * 39.7mm * 15.9mm. Weight is 31 grams.
  • Up to 10 hours operation on a single battery charge.

The development of software and hardware was supported by several funded projects, including EPSRC projects Audioclouds, and Negotiated Interaction, the IST Programme of the European Commission, via the OpenInterface project, IRCSET BRG SC/2003/271, Continuous Gestural Interaction with Mobile devices; HEA project Body Space; SFI grant A dynamic systems approach to Negotiated Interaction on mobile devices, and SFI grant 00/PI.1/C067.

SAMH Engineering can sell the devices to other research groups interested in using the SHAKE. Please contact stephenahughes@gmail.com for more information.