Affective sleeve: Wearable materials with haptic action for promoting calmness

Abstract

Although affective computing is most often associated with software intelligence, physical materials can also be programmed to promote wellbeing. Based on recent findings regarding the impact on health of interoceptive awareness and the sensation of touch, we develop the programmable Affective Sleeve, a wearable device that produces rhythmic haptic action (warmth and slight pressure along the arm) to promote calmness and reduce anxiety. Through a controlled pilot study, we demonstrate that the pace of haptic action of the sleeve can influence the participants’ breathing rate and perception of calmness. Quantitative findings indicate that faster haptic action is associated with a faster breathing rate, while qualitative self-report findings affirm a positive correlation between perceived calmness and slow pace of haptic action (equal to relaxed breathing rate), and a negative correlation between perceived calmness and fast pace of haptic action (25% faster than relaxed breathing rate).