Computer-mediated emotional regulation: detection of emotional changes using non-parametric cumulative sum

It has been demonstrated that negative emotions have adverse effects on the immune system of a person. This contributes to increased morbidity and mortality in the elderly population and has a direct impact on quality of life. Positive emotions on the other hand may not only undo the harmful effects of negative emotions but also protect against certain diseases. Hence the use of technology to facilitate emotional regulation that reduces negative emotions may be a good way to promote self-care and support well-being. In this paper we present the early design stages of an emotion detection system that aims to support remote support and self-regulation in situations of intense emotional distress. We provide evidence of the suitability of non-parametric cumulative sum (CUSUM) to indentify emotional changes from neutral to non-neutral and vice versa in real time.