Stress is a killer and each of us struggles with controlling stress in our own way. Often stress relief comes in the form of equally destructive behaviors including over-eating, smoking, watching too much television, etc. As a result, stress is a serious contributing factor to higher healthcare costs in the form of heart attacks, cancer and many chronic illnesses. The challenge is that stress is hard to control and, worse yet, it can really snowball out of control.
Over the years, there have been many ideas to help people reduce stress: meditation, exercise, calming music, hobbies and, of course, beer drinking. At Perficient, we like solutions that use gaming or gamification to reduce stress. One interesting approach is a small device call the PIP biosensor. The PIP biosensor is a Kickstarter project that aims to help folks mediate stress by objectively measuring symptoms, digitally visualizing the results, and then gamifying stress reduction. It’s the latest in an avalanche of sensors aiming to increase body awareness and health.
The design of the basic device is interesting and very similar to a stress reliever of a smooth stone that I have seen people rub to reduce stress. The PIP device measures Galvanic Skin Response–or changes in the skin’s conductivity as a stressful situation sends the heart racing and activates the sweat glands. The biosensor, held between thumb and forefinger, relays this information by Bluetooth to a mobile device (Android or iOS) where an app interprets and displays it. People using the PIP would play one of three games designed to develop biofeedback and thereby gain “conscious control over an aspect of their psycho-physiological state.” By gamifying the experience, people are motivated to play repeatedly, figure out what works, what doesn’t, and improve along the way.
The small nature of the device and the lack of wires, thanks to Bluetooth, means it can ride in your pocket or backpack for ease of use. While the PIP device idea isn’t a new one in stress relief, it demonstrates a trend in healthcare of using sensors like the FitBit or Nike Plus to provide telemetry to a person that is interested in improving their health in general. One day, ideally, these sensors would be incorporated into the same smartphone that is interpreting the results and allowing the gaming platform to keep you interested. Personally, I like calming music to reduce stress and if the PIP device could create a playlist of the right tunes on my smartphone to keep me off the ledge, now that’s my game.
The growth of sensors as a means of managing personalized healthcare is a positive development because it encourages real changes in people’s behavior, hopefully in a positive way. Relax, and let’s face it, it is better than a mood ring and more real fun. Would you try it?
