Vyro Games' PIP wants to relieve your stress

Having trouble finding the time or place to relax? Feel constantly wound up? Looking for a way to have fun and relieve stress? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be alive. Additionally, you may also be interested in Vyro Games' PIP -- or Personal Input Pod. The premise of the device is simple: via Bluetooth, the teardrop-shaped biofeedback sensor relays your stress levels (measured in electrodermal activity, or sweat production) to software on a mobile phone, where it's used to control a simple game. The outcome of the game is dependent on how relaxed the user can get, and the program continuously monitors the player's stress levels and reacts accordingly, helping them develop control over the relaxation process. No word yet on price, or when the PIP will be available... but we're not going to stress out about it.

[Via Impress]

[Darak @ Sep 26th 2007 4:10PM]

So it's a mobile version of The Chair? I demand McEnroe be involved!

[abecfive @ Sep 26th 2007 4:17PM]

Did anyone else see that Star Trek where Riker brought back the game that mounted on your head and shot lasers into your eyeballs and turned out to be some sort of mind control where the people that had programmed were trying to take over the universe. Of course they didn't get away with it because a smart young man named Crusher figured it all out with the help of that hot little piece of sexual tension before she went all slave-like?

Anyway, this reminds me of that.

[Justin @ Sep 26th 2007 4:31PM]

I haven't...but I think I might want to now...

[jess @ Sep 26th 2007 4:57PM]

I clicked on the comments just to see if anyone else thought that episode.

[kirameru1701 @ Sep 26th 2007 8:26PM]

Also, the episode of Deep Space Nine where Dax is playing a game in the holosuite which is bears a closer resemblance to this, essentially the basis of the game was that there is a colored ball floating in front of you and sensors monitor how relaxed you are (Star Trek style, of course!) and adjust the speed at which the ball changes colors accordingly. The object of the game is to become so relaxed that the ball stops changing color altogether.

[TravistyOJ @ Sep 26th 2007 4:52PM]

This actually sounds like it causes stress.

[Denver_80203 @ Sep 26th 2007 5:47PM]

seriously. I have so much to do I'm stressed so I have to fit this game in!!!

then again I'm sitting around at work posting on engadget...

[Taylor @ Sep 26th 2007 4:54PM]

Yeah... I know losing a round of Slayer on Halo always relaxes me...
-Taylor

[rrandrews @ Sep 26th 2007 5:26PM]

Hey, it's my field! anyway... measures of galvanic skin response indiscriminately detect arousal of the sympathetic nervous system. Stress will cause high readings, but so will thinking about that girl from High School Musical naked. Or thinking about the money you wasted on this device.

It's really easy for people to learn to manipulate these things, but is it really beneficial? Probably not.

[Lindsey @ Sep 26th 2007 7:29PM]

Biofeedback is actually supposed to be a very successful therapy technique to deal with learning to control stress, panic attacks, etc.

Not sure of how accurate this device is, but the premise of making a biofeedback tool available to the general public is awesome! Most of us could use learning a little more self-control, wouldn't you say? :)

[rutsy5 @ Sep 26th 2007 11:08PM]

Alternatively, one could learn to meditate...