Let Me Relax: Toward Automated Sedentary State Recognition and Ubiquitous Mental Wellness Solutions

Abstract

Advances in ubiquitous computing technology improve workplace productivity, reduce physical exertion, but ultimately result in a sedentary work style. Sedentary behavior is associated with an increased risk of stress, obesity, and other health complications. Let Me Relax is a fully automated sedentary-state recognition framework using a smartwatch and smartphone, which encourages mental wellness through interventions in the form of simple relaxation techniques.The system was evaluated through a comparative user study of 22 participants split into a test and a control group. An analysis of NASA Task Load Index pre-and post-study survey revealed that test subjects who followed relaxation methods, showed a trend of both increased activity as well as reduced mental stress. Reduced mental stress was found even in those test subjects that had increased inactivity. These results suggest that repeated interventions, driven by an intelligent activity recognition system, is an effective strategy for promoting healthy habits, which reduce stress, anxiety, and other health risks associated with sedentary workplaces.

Wrist-Based Survival Swimming Activity Recognition System

“…Health-tracking has become a subject of interest in industry application of activity recognition [12], and several companies, such as Samsung, Apple and Fitbit, have used activity recognition to track health statistics such as calorie-counting, distance-tracking and step-counting [13,14]. Academic papers have also begun to track specific gym exercises [15,16], sedentary lifestyles [17,18] cleansing activities [19,20], work actions [21,22], and even road quality [23].…”