Abstract: There is described a method of characterising a property or behaviour of at least one biological cell. The method comprises the steps of: providing a microplate; submerging at least one surface of the microplate in a cell culture medium such that at least one biological cell to be characterised is in contact with the microplate; vibrating the microplate; providing a plurality of mutually spaced sensors coupled to the microplate; obtaining a respective sensory data time series from each sensor during vibration of the microplate, the microplate and the sensors being arranged such that the obtained sensory data time series are not independent from one another; and processing the sensory data time series so as to characterise a property or behaviour of the at least one biological cell. A corresponding system for characterising a property or behaviour of at least one biological cell is also described.

Abstract: There is a distributive sensing technology that can discriminate between the causes of dynamic disturbances. The system applies sensing elements within a sensing medium, and the medium couples the dynamic disturbance and the sensors. By interpreting the responses of the medium, the nature of the disturbance can be discriminated in a way as to determine a description, class or category. There is a method of categorizing the dynamic body behavior, the method comprising: providing a sensing medium during at least a period of the dynamic behavior of the body; providing a plurality of sensors coupled to the sensing medium; obtaining a sensory data time series from each sensor, the sensing medium and the sensors being arranged such that the obtained sensory data time series are not independent from one another; specifying a dynamic behavior category; and processing the sensory data time series. Apparatus for performing the method is also described.