Convention Paper
Catch Your Breath - Musical Biofeedback for Breathing Regulation
AES Convention 127 · Paper 7870 · October 2009
Abstract
Catch Your Breath' is an interactive musical biofeedback system adapted from a project designed to reduce respiratory irregularity in patients undergoing 4D-CT scans for oncological diagnosis. The medical application system is currently implemented and undergoing assessment as a means to reduce motion-induced distortion in CT images. The same framework was implemented as an interactive art installation. The principle is simple - the subject’s breathing motion is tracked via video camera using fiducial markers, and interpreted as a real-time variable tempo adjustment to a MIDI file. The subject adjusts breathing to synchronize with a separate accompaniment line. When the subject’s breathing is regular and at the desired tempo, the audible result sounds synchronous and harmonious. The accompaniment’s tempo gradually decreases, which causes breathing to synchronize and slow down, thus increasing relaxation.
