ViBreathe: Heart Rate Variability Enhanced Respiration Training for Workaday Stress Management via an Eyes-Free Tangible Interface

Abstract

Slow breathing guiding applications increasingly emerge, showing promise for helping knowledge workers to better cope with workaday stress. However, standard breathing guidance is non-interactive, with rigid paces. Despite their effects being proved, they could cause respiratory fatigue, or lack of training motivation, especially for novice users. To explore new design possibilities, we investigate using heart rate variability (HRV) data to mediate breathing guidance, which results in two HRV-enhanced guidance modes: (i) responsive breathing guidance and (ii) adaptive breathing guidance. These guidance modes are implemented on a soft haptic interface named "ViBreathe". We conducted a user test (N = 24), and a one-week field deployment (N = 4) with knowledge workers, to understand the user experience of our design. The HRV-enhanced modes were generally experienced to reduce tiresome and improve engagement and comfort. And Vibreathe showed great potential for seamlessly weaving slow breathing practice into work routines. We thereby summarize related design insights and opportunities.

External Auditory Stimulation as a Non-Pharmacological Sleep Aid

“…For the ASMR sound sources we found on YouTube, it is judged that a sound masking effect was created because the frequency characteristic with time has the characteristics of intermittent white or pink noise. In addition, research shows that listening to the sounds of nature can affect the body to calm and relax [ 75 ]. Therefore, the sounds of nature, including the sound of rain, create a calm atmosphere for meditation and, as a result, induce sleep by relaxation.…”

Spiritual Therapy Approach toward People with Mental Disorder: Literature Review

“…The method can be respiratory by regulating breathing activities or muscles. Regularity in breathing, especially with the right rhythm, will cause the mental attitude and body to relax (Yu et al, 2021). From the explanation above, it can be concluded that relaxation is a state where individuals feel calm, comfortable, and peaceful.…”