Biofeedback mobile app
February 12, 2013
The Department of Defense has released an Android smartphone app to help service members use the therapeutic benefits of biofeedback.
BioZen, a mobile app from the Defense Department’s National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), uses Bluetooth-coupled sensors to show the user their physical level of relaxation.
It is the first portable, low-cost method for clinicians and patients to use biofeedback in and out of the clinic.
“Mastering biofeedback successfully is difficult and frustrating for many people,” said Dr. David Cooper, T2 psychologist. This app takes many of the large medical sensors found in a clinic and puts them in the hands of anyone with a smart phone, making it easier for anyone to get started with biofeedback.”
BioZen shows real-time data from multiple body sensors including electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), galvanic skin response (GSR), electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), respiratory rate, and skin temperature. Each sensor sends a separate signal to the phone so users can see how their body is responding to their behavior.
It can display Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma brain waves. It can also combine the brain waves to show meditative and attentive cognitive states. Users can document their session with biofeedback data recorded in the phone or tablet. BioZen generates graphical feedback from the recording sessions to show the user’s progress over time.
Download from Google play
The mobile application, free for Android devices, is built on an open source framework: Bluetooth Sensor Processing for Android (B-SPAN), developed by T2.
Users need to purchase compatible medical sensors to use the app. A sensor can range in price depending on quality. The cost of compatible sensors begins between $75 and $150.
Compatible Biosensor Devices that work with BioZen:
| Name | Manufacturer | Available Parameters |
| BioHarness BT | Zephyr-Technology | Heart rate, Respiration Rate, Skin Temp |
| BrainAthlete | BrianAthlete | (EEG) – Delta,Theta,Low Alpha,High Alpha,Low Beta,High Beta,Low Gamma,Mid Gamma,(e)Attention,(e)Meditation |
| MindBand | NeuroSky | (EEG) – Delta,Theta,Low Alpha,High Alpha,Low Beta,High Beta,Low Gamma,Mid Gamma,(e)Attention,(e)Meditation |
| Mindset MS001 | NeuroSky | (EEG) – Delta,Theta,Low Alpha,High Alpha,Low Beta,High Beta,Low Gamma,Mid Gamma,(e)Attention,(e)Meditation |
| Mindwave Mobile | NeuroSky | (EEG) – Delta,Theta,Low Alpha,High Alpha,Low Beta,High Beta,Low Gamma,Mid Gamma,(e)Attention,(e)Meditation |
| Shimmer2R | Shimmer-Research | ECG, GSR, EMG |
Comments (6)
by Skydog
The value is not only to those who can track their health.
It creates a whole new set of Google Analytics.
I’m positive they wouldn’t sell this information to anyone…………………………………
by Bri
I don’t know there is something perverse about the defense dept getting into zen and biofeedback. I applaud the device and any meditative practice, it’s just the thought of blissful soldiers with calm smiles on their faces as they create mayhem. It might have a tactical advantage. Drop a bunch of smart phones and sensors into the enemies camp and after awhile nobody will want to fight!
by Lillie
Perverse? What an ignorant statement. The majority of severely impacted complex PTSD cases come out of the military. They are finally trying to take care of their own. Give them the props for making the effort. Our soldiers certainly deserve the opportunity to recover from the horrors they have lived through.
by Ian Clarke
Excellent! Been waiting years for something like this – a precursor to personal tricorders. Roll on the future!
by Editor
Yes, I’m planning to experiment.
by Ian Clarke
I think something like this will teach us a lot about our health and how to maintain it. If we could upload the results to a medically trained Watson, it might catch problems early that we might not bother (or simply can’t afford) to see a doctor about.
What I’d love to see discovered is a way of monitoring vitamin & mineral deficiencies by merely applying a litmus-like plaster – a full blood workup without a drop being spilled.