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StressEraser, pocket biofeedback system

David Pescovitz at 10:37 am Wed, Sep 3, 2008

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The StressEraser is a pocket-sized digital biofeedback device designed to keep you calm in the face of stress. My friend Jerry Michalski's pal has been carrying one for at least a year or so and loves it. Jerry says he envisions that these kinds of devices could eventually be integrated into mobile phones. I've played with the StressEraser a few times for brief periods and it's quite intuitive and fun to use. Over at Cool Tools, George Brett wrote a positive review of StressEraser too, saying it helps him relax and sleep. I have no problem with either of those tasks, but I do suffer from info overload and deadline stress quite a bit. Knowing me though, I'd stress even more if I didn't see immediate good results from using StressEraser. It's $299. From Cool Tools:
 Cooltools Stresseraser-Sm This small unit measures the effects of breathing on the parasympathetic system in order to help you feel calm and relaxed. My doctor actually prescribed it for me. The results are subtle but pretty amazing. My major successes have been trying to get to sleep at night. I fire up the small playing-card-pack-size box, which runs on two AAA batteries. Then I insert my finger into the trap door on the top left and begin working to control my breathing pattern. If you haven't used it in a while, it coaxes you to reset date and time. Then it begins with a straight line.... and you begin to breath. What the manual recommends is that you breath in through the nose and then exhale from your mouth.
Buy StressEraser (Amazon), StressEraser review (Cool Tools)

David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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  • TEKNA2007

    Looks cool, but doesn’t it train you not to think about work?

  • David Pescovitz

    ghbrett #3, Awwww, shucks.

  • Sparrow

    It looks almost like my E-Meter.

  • ghbrett

    FWIW I found the unit at 1/3 off retail. So, look around you can find them at less the full cost.

    Thanks David, I feel I just made the cover of the digital equivalent of the Rolling Stone!!

    – geORge

  • ymr049c

    Take your meditation performance to the next level!!1!

    Has your subpar meditation made you the laughingstock of the ashram? Train like the pros, get centered like the pros. Call 1-800-OM-PADME.

  • jv1122

    I’m wondering if this is just an aid that would help someone begin a kind of conscious breathing meditation.

    You don’t need a gadget, all you need is a clean floor surface and a cushion to sit on. =)

  • Chevan

    I remember seeing ads for those things in various magazines. They always looked a little cheesy and bogus, but if they really work that’s pretty neat.