Developing next generation Internet of
Things biofeedback application
and
Joining the company’s mission of “Bringing Life Changing Impact
Through Wearable Sensor Technologies”
Contact:
KTH: Jan Markendahl (janmar@kth.se), Mårten Sundquist (msundqu@kth.se)
Biosync Technology AB: Björn De Jounge (bjorn.dejounge@biosynctechnology.com)
Introduction
The Internet of Things market is developing quickly as the cost and availability of sensors are
developing favorably, mobile internet is becoming ubiquitous and the success of the smartphone
ecosystem is continuing. Biosync Technology AB is an award-winning innovative research-based
Internet-Of-Things (IoT) company (http://www.biosynctechnology.com) aiming to reduce employees’
sick leaves and prevent financial losses by introducing a disruptive tool and service based on enabling
wearable sensor technologies.
The system is a wearable IoT application that was brought forth through research in the Mobile Life
centre, the SICS-part of the centre, lead by professor Kristina Höök. It has been extensively published in
the highest renowned international venues (turn to www.sics.se/ah).
During research phase, the wearable IoT application consisted of two parts: a sensor-bracelet and an app.
The sensor-bracelet picks up on basic bodily expressions of short-term stress, such as skin conductance
and movement, wirelessly sending the data, in real-time, to the mobile. The data generated is stored in a
secure cloud solution, allowing it to be accessed from multiple platforms. The app, currently available
both on the mobile and on the web, shows the bio-data from the bracelet both in real-time, enabling a
biofeedback loop, and over time (days or even months). Biofeedback technique was proven to be effective
in changing people’s health behavior1,2. The design is a unique, evocative, colourful animation. Presenting
stress bio-data in ambiguous way to the end-user was proved to motivate people to reflect on their
behavior and find behavior patterns for themselves3 4. The system uses data analysis to calibrate to the
individual user, clean the data from noise, and portray the data relative to a time window to ensure
catching small, but significant changes.
The first version of the system was tested in 2012 in a study where four participants from Stockholm
Municipality used the system daily during a month each. Positive confirmation was obtained that the
system worked as intended. The participants learnt more about their somatic responses and even changed
their behaviour. A whole year after the study, the effects remained. Afterwards all four participants
wanted to keep the system.
In 2014, Biosync Technology AB has started a joint project COIN-SWEAT led by KTH@Wireless in
collaboration with Friskis&Svettis Uppsala (http://wireless.kth.se/sweat/ ). The aim of the project is to
1
Milosevic M, Shrove MT JE. Applications of smartphones for ubiquitous health monitoring and wellbeing management. J Inf Technol
Appl. 2011;1(1):7–15
2
Lin G, Xiang Q. Heart rate variability biofeedback decreases blood pressure in prehypertensive subjects by improving autonomic function
and baroreflex. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Feb;18(2):143-52. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0607
3
Stahl A. et al. “Evocative Balance: Designing for Interactional Empowerment”. International Journal of Design Vol. 8 No. 1 2014 .
4
Ouwerker M et al. “Wireless Multi Sensor Bracelet with Discreet Feedback”
study how IoT application can improve people’s motivation to exercise. Biosync’s solution will be tested
during the study starting in Autumn 2015.
Overview of the product
SOLUTION: a biofeedback system for
stress measurement and management
SelfManagement
of Stress
Healthcare
Interven on
Improved Well-being and
Saved Costs
Algorithm
Cloud Storage
The system consists of a wristband with biosensors, algorithm for data filtering, mobile application
with interactive visualization and cloud platform (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Overview of a biofeeback system for stress management.
Master Thesis
The Master Thesis will include studying, analyzing and designing the business model for the
application developed by Biosync Technology AB in the context of COIN-SWEAT project. The thesis
work will take part at the Biosync Technology AB office in Kista with supervision from both Biosync
and KTH.
The following subtasks are expected to be performed:
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Literature study of existing solutions for better stress and sleep measurement.
Which business models are used? How is the market developing?
What is willingness to pay and who is a payer?
What revenue model is feasible?
Perform stakeholder mapping. What role in the value chain Biosync should have?
What roles do other stakeholders have?
Suggest enhancements for the application based on received insights