A computer science student in the UK has created a plush ball that aims to support mental health by ‘personifying’ breath. A Ph.D. student from the University of Bath in the UK has created a plush ball that 'personifies' human breathing, inflating and deflating in sync with the user's inhales and e
Alexz Farrall demonstrates the use of PAWS. Credit: Vittoria D’Alessio, University of Bath
Generally, breathing is an ignored activity, yet when done deeply and with focus, it’s known to alleviate anxiety and foster well-being. Measured breathing is highly rated by mental health practitioners both for its ability to lower the temperature in emotionally charged situations and to increase a person’s receptivity to more demanding mental health interventions.
“I hope this device will be part of the solution for many people with problems relating to their mental wellbeing,” said Mr Farrall.Recent research led by Mr Farrall shows a significant improvement in people’s ability to focus on their breathing when they use his shape-shifting ball. With their attention heightened, study participants were then able to pay closer attention to a guided audio recording from a meditation app.
“This allows them to become more aware of their own internal sensations and more receptive to psychological change. It gives a personalized and engaging experience, and is accessible to everyone.” Professor Jason Alexander, who supervises Mr. Farrall’s project from the Department of Computer Science at Bath, said: “The beauty of PAWS is that the concept is so simple – letting someone ‘feel’ their breath – yet it has the potential to revolutionize the delivery and outcomes of mental health support not only in the UK but worldwide.”The ball works through haptic feedback, where sensors attached to the user’s body transmit data about their respiration patterns to the ball via a computer.
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