OpenGUT

OpenGut: An Open-Source Platform for Gut–Computer Interaction Research

OpenGut is an open-source platform designed to enable research at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), physiology, and interoception. It provides a complete end-to-end system for sensing, analyzing, and interacting with gut activity through a wearable device, software interface, and extensible documentation.

🚀 Motivation

The gut plays a critical role in human physiology and cognition through the gut–brain axis. Despite growing interest in gut-based interaction, existing tools are fragmented, application-specific, and lack accessibility. OpenGut addresses this gap by providing a unified, reproducible, and extensible platform for researchers and developers.

🧩 System Overview

OpenGut consists of three main components:

1. Wearable Hardware

• Custom PCB based on Nordic nRF52840
• Dual-microphone setup (body-facing + ambient) for gut sound capture
• MicroSD storage for long-term recording
• Plug-and-play support for audio and haptic actuators
• Designed as a belt-worn system for continuous, real-world use

2. Software Interface (GUI)

• Real-time audio visualization (waveforms + spectrograms)
• Annotation tools for gut signal analysis
• Noise suppression and filtering pipelines
• Configurable recording and playback parameters

3. Documentation & Open Resources

• Hardware design files (PCB, enclosure)
• Firmware and software codebase
• Step-by-step setup and usage guides
• Modular design for easy customization and extension

⚙️ Supported Modes

OpenGut supports multiple modes of operation:

• Logger Mode: Long-term gut sound recording
• Playback Mode: Audio/haptic rendering of gut signals
• Real-time Loopback Mode: Live sensing and feedback

📊 Validation

OpenGut has been technically evaluated for:

• Signal quality (high correlation with medical-grade stethoscopes)
• Longitudinal gut activity tracking
• 24-hour recording capability with low power consumption

💡 Applications

• Interoception research and bodily awareness
• Mental and emotional state sensing
• Health monitoring and digestion studies
• Interactive media and immersive experiences
• Biofeedback and wearable computing

🔓 Open Source Vision

OpenGut aims to lower the barrier to entry in gut-computer interaction research by providing a fully open, reproducible, and extensible platform for the community.

🤝 Contributions

We welcome contributions from researchers, engineers, and designers interested in advancing gut-based interaction systems.