Measurements

External (Environmental)

External, or environmental measurements relate to conditions outside of the body and mind and highly objective. Obvious, everyday examples that humans can detect include gravity, temperature, visible light and weather. Less obvious examples outside of human perception include electricity, magnetism, non-visible light, radio waves, radiation (grays and rads) and VOCs.

Mental (Psychological)

Psychological measurements are less obvious and a long way from "I'm cold"; they are very subjective and specific to an individual; external, emotional and environmental factors may play a significant part. In the UK and elsewhere, there are a number of questionnaire-based tests related to anxiety and general mental health that are generally relied upon for diagnostic purposes.

Physical (Physiological)

Physical measurements (a lot of which we often call tests), also known as biomarkers (a contraction of biological markers,) can allow us to understand our state of being and are highly objective. These measurements, particularly when combined, can give us indications as to our body's state and health. For instance, a heart rate of zero would indicate a person is dead, although that might not always be the case.

Context and time frame are significant; a consistent heart rate of zero for four minutes or more is more conclusive that a single reading at a particular point in time. A resting heart rate below 60bpm could be bradycardia but without an understanding of an individual's fitness level it's impossible to say; for a professional athlete, or genetically 'gifted' individual it's likely not bradycardia, for an obese man with diabetes it probably is.

Common biomarkers include;

• heart rate
• blood pressure
• cholesterol
• glucose
• oxygen saturation

References

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Last Updated: 2026-05-15