With constant streams of news and social media, it’s harder than ever to prioritize self-care practices like meditation. Despite its mental and physical benefits, many struggle to begin or sustain the habit. Now, a new technology from the Harvard Innovation Lab and BrainCo aims to make meditation easier to access with the innovative OxyZen headband.
OxyZen is a brain-machine interface (BMI) that uses smart technology to facilitate meditation through a headband that gathers real-time data on the wearer’s brain activity and vital signs. It aims to support mental wellness fitted with sensors that read heart rate, brainwaves, and blood oxygen levels through electroencephalogram (EEG) and photoplethysmograph (PPG) signals.
The comfortable, fabric headband connects effortlessly to an app, making it easy to access immediate insights into stress triggers and relaxation levels. This non-invasive BMI tracks various wellness metrics and presents them in a user-friendly app interface, which can be observed passively or actively monitored through over 600 meditation and relaxation programs. Users can explore a range of guided meditations, with sessions lasting from a few minutes to half an hour.
Research has shown that meditation can outperform antidepressants in treating anxiety, alleviate chronic pain, and even influence gut microbiome health. For those who find meditation stressful, OxyZen offers a practical entry point with beginners’ guides and real-time feedback. The device “trains” the brain by providing progressively customized programs, aided by AI-driven data analysis. Users can see scores reflecting their state, from calm to deeply relaxed, and track improvement over time. In a personal observation, the author humorously noted that they only reached a “deeply relaxed” state 1% of the time, hinting at room for improvement.
OxyZen also includes a sleep coach feature, offering customizable sounds like waterfalls, rain, and forest breezes. Designed to help users wind down, the sounds decrease in volume over time. This sleep function requires wearing the headband to bed, which can pose challenges for side-sleepers, as the sensors must remain connected to the forehead. The kit includes a softer elastic band specifically for sleeping, though ensuring continuous contact can sometimes be difficult. Users can also select meditation programs for improving sleep quality, such as a 21-day “Meditation of Insomnia” course, which aims to enhance relaxation.
The headband’s battery life supports extended use, lasting through the night if charged to near-full capacity. For daytime use of 10–30 minutes, the battery can last for several weeks. With a USB-C charging port and Bluetooth connectivity, the OxyZen is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. For those interested in joining early, the OxyZen kit is available through a crowdfunding campaign at a 40% discount, with worldwide shipping expected to begin in December.
For beginners and seasoned meditators alike, the OxyZen app’s data-gathering capabilities offer a level of insight that standard fitness trackers do not. While the device may not suit everyone, its combination of advanced technology and mindfulness programs makes it an appealing option for anyone seeking to enhance their meditation journey.
Source: Indiegogo
