Embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable/mobile computing devices configured to facilitate health and wellness monitoring and maintenance. More specifically, disclosed are systems, components and methods to detect physiological characteristics, such as heart rate, of an organism in real-time based on components of light. In various embodiments, a method can include receiving color channel signals including imagery data generated by, for example, an image capture device. A linear combination of the color channel signals can form a combined color channel signal. The method also can include transforming continuously the combined color channel signal to establish local maxima associated with multiple scales. Further, portions of time associated with the local maxima can be identified and data signal representing a physiological characteristic can be generated. A local maximum can indicate the presence of enhanced blood volume adjacent a tissue surface.
