Exploring Biofeedback with a Tangible Interface Designed for Relaxation

TL;DR

This study introduces 'Inner Flower', a biofeedback device using heart rate to promote relaxation through an ambient interface, comparing focus and ambient modes, and evaluating its effectiveness and usability.

Contribution

It presents a novel tangible biofeedback device with ambient modality and compares its effectiveness against traditional focus mode and sham feedback in relaxation.

Findings

Focus mode improved relaxation and cognitive performance.

Ambient feedback showed no significant effect.

Biofeedback did not outperform sham feedback.

Abstract

Anxiety is a common health issue that can occur throughout one's existence. In this pilot study we explore an alternative technique to regulate it: biofeedback. The long-term objective is to offer an ecological device that could help people cope with anxiety, by exposing their inner state in a comprehensive manner. We propose a first iteration of this device, "Inner Flower", that uses heart rate to adapt a breathing guide to the user, and we investigate its efficiency and usability. Traditionally, such device requires user's full attention. We propose an ambient modality during which the device operates in the peripheral vision. Beside comparing "Ambient" and "Focus" conditions, we also compare the biofeedback with a sham feedback (fixed breathing guide). We found that the Focus group demonstrated higher relaxation and performance on a cognitive task (N-back). However, there was no noticeable effect of the Ambient feedback, and the biofeedback condition did not yield any significant difference when compared to the sham feedback. These results, while promising, highlight the pitfalls of any research related to biofeedback, where it is difficult to fully comprehend the underlying mechanisms of such technique.