Well-being device
By designing a well-being device with a shape of a sphere or an ellipse, the up and down movement of the umbrella body simulates respiratory movement, solving the problem of irregular breathing caused by long-term use of electronic devices, and achieving the effect of helping users adjust their breathing, improve concentration and reduce stress.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023172054
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-15
AI Technical Summary
Long-term use of computers or smartphones will lead to adverse effects such as irregular breathing. The existing equipment is limited and it is difficult to effectively promote relaxation of breathing.
Design a well-being device with a sphere or ellipsoid shape, which includes an umbrella that can move up and down and drive mechanism. The up and down movement of the umbrella simulates breathing movement, helping users adjust their breathing, increase concentration, and reduce stress.
With devices that simulate breathing movements, users can more easily adjust their breathing, increase or maintain concentration, and effectively reduce stress.
Smart Images
Figure 2025062792000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a well-being device. [Background technology]
[0002] It is known that prolonged exposure to blue light can cause cognitive decline due to overconcentration of the brain, irregular breathing, and other adverse effects (Non-Patent Document 1). It is also known that slow and deep breathing (SDB) has various benefits for the mind and body (Non-Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]
[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Honma M et al., Reading on a smartphone affects sigh generation, brain activity, and comprehension. Scientific reports. 2022; 12(1); 1589 [Non-Patent Document 2] Russo MA et al., The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Breathe (Sheff). 2017; 13(4); 298-309. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] Long-term use of personal computers and smartphones can have adverse effects such as irregular breathing. As reported in Non-Patent Document 2, such adverse effects can be alleviated by consciously breathing slowly, but devices to promote relaxed breathing are limited.
[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a well-being device that can evoke the sensation of breathing. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] A well-being device according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter the well-being device may be simply referred to as the "device") comprises a base body, a canopy mounted so as to be movable up and down relative to the base body, and a drive mechanism for moving the canopy up and down, the base body and the canopy having an outer shape of a sphere or ellipsoid, or a part thereof, and the drive mechanism for moving the canopy up and down at a predetermined rhythm.
[0007] The well-being device, by its shape and movement, reminds the user of the sensation of breathing, which enables the user to regulate their breathing, improve or maintain their concentration, and reduce stress.
[0008] In the above embodiment, when the canopy body reaches the bottom during the up and down movement, a gap may be formed between the base and the canopy body. This embodiment not only makes it easier for the user to breathe comfortably, but also eliminates the inconvenience of a part of the human body or an object getting caught between the canopy body and the base when using the device.
[0009] In the above aspect, the height of the base body and the umbrella body may be substantially the same. According to this aspect, the user is more likely to be reminded of the sensation of breathing.
[0010] In the above aspect, the device may generate light or sound to prompt users nearby to breathe in time with a predetermined rhythm. According to this aspect, for example, when the user is in a state where his / her concentration is low or stress is high, the user's attention can be directed to the device, and the device can be effectively utilized.
[0011] The well-being device may be a device for regulating the breathing of a person viewing the movement of the device. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method for regulating the breathing of a person viewing the movement of the device using the well-being device.
[0012] The well-being device may be a device for improving or maintaining the concentration of a person viewing the movement of the device. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method for improving or maintaining the concentration of a person viewing the movement of the device using the well-being device.
[0013] The well-being device may be a device for reducing stress in a person who watches the movement of the device. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method for reducing stress in a person who watches the movement of the device by using the well-being device. Effect of the Invention
[0014] According to the present invention, a well-being device can be provided that can regulate breathing and contribute to improving or maintaining concentration and reducing stress. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0015] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a schematic perspective view and a schematic front view, respectively, showing an example of a well-being device according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a well-being device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the shape design of a well-being device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic front view showing an example of a movement of the well-being device according to the present embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference symbols. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, ratios, etc. The drawings may also include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.
[0017] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view (A) and a schematic front view (B) showing an example of a well-being device according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Fig. 1(A). As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a well-being device 1 according to this embodiment (hereinafter also referred to as "device 1") includes a base body 10, a canopy body 20 mounted on the base body 10 so as to be vertically movable, and a drive mechanism 30 for vertically moving the canopy body 20.
[0018] The device 1 makes the user feel the sensation of breathing by moving the umbrella body 20 up and down with respect to the base body 10 at a predetermined rhythm. This is based on the perceptual phenomenon (hereinafter referred to as "motion empathy") in which, when a person or object moves, they feel the movement in a pseudo manner even if they are not performing that movement themselves (hereinafter referred to as "motion empathy"). For information on motion empathy, see, for example, Kensho Miyoshi, "Designing Objects in Motion: Exploring Kinaesthetic Empathy (Board of International Research in Design)" 2022, Birkhauser, Kensho Miyoshi, "Objects in Motion: Exploring Kinaesthetic Empathy in Design". Doctoral dissertation, Royal College of Art, 2019 (United Kingdom).
[0019] One of the features of the device 1 is that the up and down movement of the umbrella body 20 creates a sense of motion empathy for the user. This is based on the following design concept. As a method of evoking the sensation of breathing through movement, in addition to up and down movement, lateral (horizontal) movement (horizontal movement, expansion and contraction, horizontal deformation, etc.) can also be considered. However, the inventors thought that lateral movement such as expansion can give a strong impression of the deformation of the body of a small animal, etc., and lateral deformation and movement may encroach on the user's personal space, and therefore, compared to motion empathy caused by up and down movement, it is more reminiscent of an individual living thing with will and autonomy. On the other hand, motion empathy caused by up and down movement is not a biological movement, for example, something blown by the wind falls after a while, but is perceived as an extension of a natural phenomenon, and the biological impression is weakened. The inventors thought that this is because people experientially perceive the gravity acting on their own bodies, and the up and down movement of the device evokes the movement caused by gravity. The inventors focused on the physical sensation of resisting gravity when inhaling and of following gravity when exhaling, such as the shoulders and chest being slightly lifted when inhaling and the shoulders and chest descending in line with their own weight when exhaling, and designed the canopy body 20 of device 1 to move up and down to easily evoke this sensation.
[0020] Related to the above design philosophy, there are previous studies that show that people tend to have biological impressions such as intentions and emotions towards autonomously moving artifacts: Florent Levillain and Elisabetta Zibetti. "Behavioral objects: The rise of the evocative machines." Journal of Human-Robot Interaction 6, no. 1 (2017): 4-24; Oliver Wolf and Geraint Wiggins "Look! It's Moving! Is It Alive? How Movement Affects Humans' Affinity to Living and Non-living Entities". IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing (2018); Oliver Wolf. "Affinity with Artefacts: Humans' Perception of Movement in Technological Objects" PhD dissertation, Queen Mary University London (2018). However, the inventors believe that if an artificial object gives the impression of being biological, the observer will have a strong impression that it is a separate living thing rather than an object onto which to project his or her own bodily sensations, which will hinder the pure exploration of one's own bodily sensations.Therefore, in this invention, we adopt up and down movement to avoid the biological impression.
[0021] As described above, the device 1 can evoke the sensation of breathing in the user without giving an excessively biological impression by generating motion empathy through the up and down movement of the umbrella body 20. This makes it easier for the user to more effectively evoke the sensation of breathing without being distracted by the biological impression, and can improve or maintain concentration and reduce stress.
[0022] In order to generate a sense of movement empathy through such up-and-down movement, device 1 includes a base body 10, a canopy body 20 mounted on base body 10 so as to be movable up and down, and a drive mechanism 30 that moves canopy body 20 up and down. In device 1, drive mechanism 30 moves canopy body 20 up and down at a predetermined rhythm, thereby evoking the sensation of breathing that corresponds to the rhythm.
[0023] For variations in breathing rhythm and the effects of each breath, for example, refer to the above-mentioned non-patent document 2 (Russo MA et al., 2017), Patrick McKeown, "The Breathing Cure: Develop New Habits for a Healthier, Happier, and Longer Life" 2021, Humanix Books, and the breathing method adopted in the Buteyko Breathing Method. For example, the following breathing method can be mentioned as a relaxed breathing rhythm.
[0024] Cadence Breathing (variation 1) (inhale for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds): Increases tolerance to carbon dioxide and allows for the most efficient gas exchange, while also achieving optimal sympathetic relaxation balance and enhancing autonomic reactivity to physical and mental stress. Cadence Breathing (variation 2) (inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds): Increases tolerance to carbon dioxide and allows for the most efficient gas exchange, while also achieving optimal sympathetic relaxation balance and enhancing autonomic reactivity to physical and mental stress. Box Breathing (inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds): Improve your tolerance to carbon dioxide, develop a habit of slow breathing, and reduce hyperventilation. Feather Breathing (inhale as slowly as possible and exhale as slowly as possible): By improving your tolerance to carbon dioxide, you can develop the habit of breathing slowly and reduce hyperventilation.
[0025] The device 1 may move the canopy 20 upward to evoke the sensation of inhaling, and may move the canopy 20 downward to evoke the sensation of exhaling. Thus, the movement of moving the canopy 20 upward may correspond to the movement of inhaling in a desired breathing technique, and the movement of moving the canopy 20 downward may correspond to the movement of exhaling in a desired breathing technique. Furthermore, the movement of pausing the canopy 20 may correspond to the movement of holding the breath in a desired breathing technique.
[0026] For example, the drive mechanism 30 may be controlled to raise the canopy body 20 during the inhalation time in the desired breathing method (e.g., 5 seconds for box breathing), to optionally pause the canopy body 20 during the breath-holding time in the desired breathing method (e.g., 5 seconds for box breathing), to lower the canopy body 20 during the exhalation time in the desired breathing method (e.g., 5 seconds for box breathing), and to optionally pause the canopy body 20 during the breath-holding time in the desired breathing method (e.g., 5 seconds for box breathing).
[0027] The driving mechanism 30 may move the canopy body 20 up and down at a rhythm stored in advance, or may move the canopy body 20 up and down at a rhythm set by the user. For example, the driving mechanism 30 may raise the canopy body 20 for 1 second or more and 15 seconds or less, may lower the canopy body 20 for 1 second or more and 15 seconds or less, or may temporarily stop the up and down movement of the canopy body 20 for 1 second or more and 15 seconds or less. When temporarily stopping the up and down movement of the canopy body 20, the up and down movement of the canopy body 20 may be temporarily stopped when the canopy body 20 reaches the top (in this case, this may correspond to holding breath after inhaling), or when the canopy body 20 reaches the bottom (in this case, this may correspond to holding breath after exhaling).
[0028] From the viewpoint of evoking in the user the sensation of relaxed, natural breathing, the up and down movement or temporary stop of the umbrella body 20 may be performed for two seconds or more.
[0029] 1 and 2, in the device 1, the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20 have an external shape of a sphere or an ellipsoid, or a part thereof. The inventors have found that by configuring the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20 as both a sphere or an ellipsoid, or a part thereof, the device 1 as a whole can be given an impression of being rounded. As a result, the user can easily project their own body onto the shape of the device, and this impression is more likely to evoke relaxed breathing.
[0030] A front view of a prototype used in designing the shape of the well-being device according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 3. In order to design a shape of the device 1 that is more likely to evoke relaxed breathing, the inventors produced prototypes having the shape shown in Fig. 1 and a number of shapes shown in Fig. 3 using a 3D printer and performed a sensory evaluation.
[0031] As prototypes, we created the following: a base and umbrella with rounded peripheries as shown in Figure 1; a disk shape as shown in Figure 3(A); a cylinder shape as shown in Figure 3(B); a square prism shape with rounded corners as shown in Figure 3(C); and a rounded umbrella with a frustum supporting it as shown in Figure 3(D). For each prototype, we created a video of the umbrella or an upper part equivalent to it moving up and down relative to the base or a lower part equivalent to it, and had multiple people view the video and interview them. As a result, we found that the up and down movement of the device with the shape shown in Figure 1 most reminded us of the sensation of breathing.
[0032] Returning to Figs. 1 and 2, the shape of the device 1 will be described. The device 1 has a base 10 having a substantially circular or elliptical bottom surface 12 and a peripheral surface 14 that gradually expands in diameter from the bottom surface 12 and rises upward, and an umbrella body 20 that is provided facing the base 10 and has a substantially circular or elliptical top surface 22 and a peripheral surface 24 that gradually expands in diameter from the top surface 22 and falls downward, and the base 10 and the umbrella body 20 are connected by a columnar part 15. One end of the columnar part 15 is connected to the approximate center inside the bottom surface 12 of the base 10, and the other end is connected to the umbrella body 20. In this way, since the peripheral surfaces of the base 10 and the umbrella body 20 of the device 1 are curved surfaces, it is possible to give the impression of being rounded as a whole, and it is easy to project the user's own body onto the shape of the device. As a result, it is easier to recall the sensation of breathing.
[0033] In addition, it is preferable that the maximum diameter (width) of the device 1 is greater than the height when viewed from the front with the umbrella body 20 positioned at the bottom. This aspect tends to more easily evoke the sensation of breathing. The maximum diameter when viewed from the front means the longest distance among the widths (the distance between two points parallel to the bottom surface) of the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20. The ratio of the height to the maximum diameter when viewed from the front of the device 1 may be, for example, 0.2 or more and 0.9 or less.
[0034] The maximum diameter and height of the device 1 when the umbrella body 20 is located at the bottom are not particularly limited, and can be set appropriately depending on the location of the device 1 and the situation in which it is used. The maximum diameter is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 5 cm or more and 20 cm or less. The height is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 2 cm or more and 15 cm or less.
[0035] In addition, in the device 1, it is preferable that the heights of the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20 are approximately the same. This aspect tends to more easily evoke the sensation of breathing. The heights of the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20 may each be independently 1 cm or more and 10 cm or less, for example.
[0036] 2, the driving mechanism 30 is housed inside the columnar part 15, and the driving mechanism 30 moves the canopy 20 up and down by controlling the height of the columnar part 15. The configuration of the driving mechanism 30 and the columnar part 15 is not particularly limited as long as it can move the canopy 20 up and down at a predetermined rhythm.
[0037] The drive mechanism 30 is not particularly limited, and may be a mechanism that electrically generates motion, such as a motor, or a mechanism that generates motion by pressure, such as air pressure, water pressure, or oil pressure. From the viewpoint of ease of control, a mechanism that electrically generates motion, such as a motor, is preferable.
[0038] The columnar portion 15 may have a mechanism for converting the movement of the driving mechanism 30 into a movement in the height direction. For example, the columnar portion 15 may have a mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the driving mechanism 30 into a movement of the columnar portion 15 in the height direction, such as a helicoid mechanism.
[0039] Next, the up-and-down movement of the umbrella body 20 of the device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. As described above, the device 1 evokes the user's sense of breathing by the up-and-down movement of the umbrella body 20 relative to the base body 10. FIG. 4(A) is a front view of the device 1 when the umbrella body 20 is located at the bottom, and FIG. 4(B) is a front view of the device when the umbrella body 20 is located at the top. That is, when the device 1 moves up and down, the state in which the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20 are close to each other as shown in FIG. 4(A) and the state in which the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20 are remote from each other as shown in FIG. 4(B) are repeatedly transitioned at a predetermined rhythm. For example, the user may regulate the rhythm of breathing by breathing in time with the up-and-down movement of the umbrella body 20 of the device 1.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 4(A), in the device 1, when the umbrella body 20 reaches the bottom in the vertical movement of the umbrella body 20, a gap 40 is preferably formed between the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20. In the design process of the device 1, the inventors conducted a sensory evaluation of multiple people and found that this mode is more likely to evoke a sense of relaxed breathing in the user. That is, according to this mode, it is difficult to create a sense of forcibly exhaling, and it is easy to evoke a sense of breathing within a comfortable range where air does not come in and out with force. In addition, by forming the gap 40 between the base body 10 and the umbrella body 20, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience caused by a part of the human body or an object being caught between the umbrella body 20 and the base body 10 when using the device.
[0041] The width d of the gap 40 formed between the base 10 and the umbrella body 20 when the umbrella body 20 reaches the bottom min is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 0.1 cm or more and 1.5 cm or less. In addition, the width d of the gap 40 formed between the base 10 and the umbrella body 20 when the umbrella body 20 in FIG. 4(B) reaches the top max is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 1 cm or more and 8 cm or less.
[0042] The device 1 may have a function of encouraging the user to recall the sensation of breathing and encouraging the user to breathe in time with the up and down movement of the device 1. For example, the device 1 may generate light or sound to encourage surrounding users to breathe in time with a predetermined rhythm. According to this embodiment, for example, when the user is in a state where his / her concentration is low or stress is high, the user's attention can be directed to the device, and the device can be effectively utilized.
[0043] As described above, the device 1 is a device that evokes the sensation of breathing in the user through motion empathy. Therefore, the device 1 can be used as a device for regulating the breathing of a person viewing the device's movement, a device for improving or maintaining the concentration of a person viewing the device's movement, or a device for reducing stress in a person viewing the device's movement.
[0044] As described above, the device 1 generates motion sympathy by the up and down movement of the umbrella body 20 relative to the base body 10. Therefore, the device 1 can be suitably used to regulate breathing, maintain concentration, and reduce stress, especially during long hours of desk work.
[0045] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The elements of the embodiments, as well as their arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, etc., are not limited to those shown as examples and can be changed as appropriate. In addition, configurations shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]
[0046] 1...well-being device, 10...base, 12...bottom surface, 14...periphery, 15...columnar portion, 20...umbrella body, 22...upper surface, 24...periphery, 30...driving mechanism.
Claims
1. The drone comprises a base, a canopy mounted on the base so as to be vertically movable, and a drive mechanism for vertically moving the canopy, The base body and the umbrella body have an outer shape of a sphere or an ellipsoid, or a part thereof; The drive mechanism moves the canopy up and down at a predetermined rhythm. Wellbeing device.
2. The well-being device according to claim 1 , wherein during the up and down movement of the canopy body, a gap is formed between the base and the canopy body when the canopy body reaches its lowest point.
3. The well-being device according to claim 1 , wherein the heights of the base body and the umbrella body are approximately the same.
4. The well-being device according to claim 1 , which generates light or sound to prompt surrounding users to breathe in time with the predetermined rhythm.
5. A method for regulating the breathing of a person viewing the movement of a well-being device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:
6. A method for improving or maintaining the concentration of a person viewing the movement of a well-being device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:
7. A method for reducing stress in a person viewing the movement of a well-being device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, using the device.