How is the invention of the hardware sensor (e.g., the electrochemical sensor at UCLA) distinct from the invention of interpretive software?

Hardware invention is distinct from the interpretive software (AI model) required for function.

The modern functional stress monitoring device relies on two largely separate fields of invention that must be integrated. The hardware invention centers on creating the physical sensors capable of capturing minute physiological or biochemical data—for example, designing the microfluidic and electrochemical systems needed for on-the-go analysis of sweat biomarkers. Conversely, the invention of the interpretive software, often involving wearable AI systems, focuses on the computational task of processing the raw, noisy data generated by those sensors, establishing baselines, and applying complex algorithms to transform data points into actionable insights regarding psychological stress.