This project is in its early stages. The goal is to provide all victims of interpersonal violence with an equal ability to document bruising. Skin color obviously influences how well a bruise can be distinguished from nearby uninjured regions.
Anecdotally, our collaborators hear that people with darker skin have more difficulty obtaining protection orders from the police. Part of this discrepancy may be that their bruises are less visible. We aim to develop optical methods with different wavelengths and/or measurement geometries that increase bruise visibility and make all victims of interpersonal violence able to get the protection they need.
Faculty collaborators: Kate Cerulli (Susan B. Anthony Center / Psychiatry), Jim Zavislan (Optics)