Wearable Computing for Health and Fitness: Exploring the Relationship between Data and Human Behaviour

Health and fitness wearable technology has recently advanced, making it easier for an individual to monitor their behaviours. Previously self generated data interacts with the user to motivate positive behaviour change, but issues arise when relating this to long term mention of wearable devices. Previous studies within this area are discussed. We also consider a new approach where data is used to support instead of motivate, through monitoring and logging to encourage reflection. Based on issues highlighted, we then make recommendations on the direction in which future work could be most beneficial

Design and Evaluation of an Ambient Lighting Interface of HRV Biofeedback System in Home Setting

Chronic stress puts individuals at an increasing risk of numerous health problems. In this study, we present an ambient lighting interface of a biofeedback system that helps users to self-regulate their breathing pattern in a home environment. To evaluate the usability and functionality of the ambient lighting interface, an experiment was conducted with 12 participants. The results suggest that users would be able to use ambient lighting biofeedback to regulate their breathing with the purpose of improving heart rate variability. Moreover, the lighting interface designed in the study is more acceptable than a traditional graphic interface for home use. We discuss these results as well as design implications for the interface of future biofeedback systems

Design and Evaluation of an Ambient Lighting Interface of HRV Biofeedback System in Home Setting

Chronic stress puts individuals at an increasing risk of numerous health problems. In this study, we present an ambient lighting interface of a biofeedback system that helps users to self-regulate their breathing pattern in a home environment. To evaluate the usability and functionality of the ambient lighting interface, an experiment was conducted with 12 participants. The results suggest that users would be able to use ambient lighting biofeedback to regulate their breathing with the purpose of improving heart rate variability. Moreover, the lighting interface designed in the study is more acceptable than a traditional graphic interface for home use. We discuss these results as well as design implications for the interface of future biofeedback systems

Your Body of Water: A Somaesthetic Display for Embodied Reflection

In response to the Quantified Self movement, which uses body data for self-tracking and self-improvement, this thesis explores how aestheticized heart rate data can be used to get us more in touch with our bodies and how we are feeling. Utilizing somaesthetics, an interdisciplinary field with roots in philosophy that combines the soma (the living body) with aesthetics (our sensory perception and appreciation), this thesis explores how we can design interactions that help us to reflect on our embodied experience. Through a research through design process using somaesthetic appreciation design characteristics, I designed an interactive display that retrieved heart rate wirelessly with computer vision and then visualized one’s heart rate as water. The display was evaluated for somaesthetic characteristics using system critiques, and this evaluation method was found to be a timely and resource-effective way of evaluating a device for self reflection and embodiment