Somnox Mini

Abstract

Millennials, a generation of individuals born between 1981 and 1996 that are shaping the current working class. One trait that makes millennials stand out from other generations is that their generation is the most stressed out. It is estimated that 20% of employed millennials in the Netherlands are suffering from symptoms due to stress. These symptoms include less life satisfaction, tiredness, and, most importantly, insomnia. The fact that stress causes insomnia makes stress a relevant problem for Somnox, as its mission is to help 100 million people sleep better by 2030. Somnox is a Dutch scale-up that focuses on developing companion-like innovations that improve human wellbeing through the power of breathing. The fast-growing company is on the look-out for new ideas to expand its product portfolio. One of these ideas is a portable breathing regulation device. The assignment’s initial brief was to turn this rough idea of a portable breathing device into an advanced concept design. I approached this by adopting an iterative approach in which I quickly ideated, built prototypes, and validated these with users. This approach has led to the final concept: the Somnox Mini. The Somnox Mini is a portable breathing regulation device that simulates breathing motion using robotics. By following the device’s breathing frequency, the device guides the user in slow breathing - which is a breathing exercise in which the breathing frequency is reduced to 6 breaths per minute. Research shows that breathing at this particular frequency induces a biological phenomenon called respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), which synchronizes the heart rate variability (HRV) and breathing frequency. This stimulates the body’s relaxation response. Long-term practice of slow breathing has been proven to balance overactive stress response and improve insomnia symptoms.