Wearables to measure our level of well-being

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At present, there are many activity trackers that measure our physical state and monitoring our health, such as those equipped with heart rate monitoring for example. However, in the future, these wearables could be used to measure our mental well-being, following the mode of "mindfulness".

Wearable manufacturers have begun to take an interest in mindfulness by offering products to combat stress, such as the jewel smart health connected Leaf or the Feel that recognizes the emotions of its user and allows to set goals to reach concerning The well-being. The biggest names in the industry have also taken their first steps towards measuring mental well-being, like Fitbit with his Charge 2, which provides breathing tips to relax. However, is it really possible to measure values ​​such as mindfulness or relaxation that seem difficult to quantify?

Mental well-being: watch your breathing

Relaxation is also closely related to physical factors but mindfulness, however, seems a difficult or impossible factor to measure. However, breathing would play a big role in relaxation sessions. Thus, the practice of mindfulness involves the control of one's breath. The way we breathe, including exhalation, is important in the relaxation and evacuation of stress and anxiety.

Respiration is the only physiological factor that humans can control. Our breathing represents our state of mind, so it would be possible to influence it by controlling his breathing. It therefore seems logical that some bracelets smart health connected use the data of our breathing to know our degree of relaxation. smart health connected objects use sensors like an accelerometer to measure our breathing. In addition, they also help users breathe better, giving them relaxation tips. The guides offered by the Fitbit Charge 2 or Apple for example allow visualize your breathing through an application. A first step towards mindfulness.

Wearables such as LEAF, previously cited, or Prana, go further by informing their users of their state of stress according to their breathing. They can then determine the source of this stress and even alert users when their breathing becomes agitated. Learning to breathe better can therefore be a first step towards mental well-being and some smart health connected objects are already equipped with the appropriate sensors.

Heart rhythm at the heart of mental well-being

However, to measure your degree of relaxation it is not enough to focus on breathing, heart rate is also an important indicator, especially heart rate variability (VFC). While breathing is easier to watch for smart health connected wristband manufacturers, the majority being equipped with an accelerometer, others are more focused on VFC, such as Zensorium. This bracelet would even be able to to differentiate between good and bad stress.

Fitbit has also taken a first step in this direction. Charge 2 providing its user a combination of data on his breathing and heart rate, which allow him to bring down the latter. It gets somehow an indication of its level of relaxation, even if these results are not as accurate as those obtained with a specific device.

However, if these data allow to give indications on our state of stress and relaxationthese are not the only parameters that come into play in mental well-being and mindfulness. Feelings and emotions must also be taken into account but is it possible to quantify these factors?

Can serenity really be measured?

If certain physical indicators come into play in our level of relaxation and well-being and it will always be possible to obtain results thanks to ever more sophisticated algorithms, technology still has its limits. She can not take into account everyone's feelings and her interpretation of relaxation and mindfulness.

Achieving a certain serenity or a certain level of relaxation is not the same as reaching your daily goals such as performing 30 minutes of physical activity or burning so many calories. If technology can bring solutions, the user remains responsible for himself.

It is possible to measure physical changes over time but in the end it remains unclear whether these changes will have any impact on the mind. Activity trackers will never tell users what they think or how they feel.

As many results as individuals

Mental well-being is definitely linked to physiological factors such as heart rate, breathing or blood pressure, which can currently easily be measured via bracelets and other smart health connected objects.

If technology would ultimately be a tool to help us achieve the desired level of mental well-being, it would not be enough in the long run.

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