Flappy Breath: A Smartphone-Based Breath Exergame

1 Flappy Breath : A Smartphone-Based BreathExergameMatthew Stafford, Feng Lin, Wenyao XuDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, Clinical studies [1] has shown that patients withbreathing disorders can have a better standard of living throughbreathing exercises. To this end, this paper presents an interactivegame, Flappy Breath , in which users can learn and practicebreathing exercises in a gamified manner. The game is meantto be not only beneficial to users health, but also enjoyable toplay and easy to understand.

2 The testing application is a FlappyBird [2] like game developed for the Android OS. The Userinhales and exhales in order to dodge obstacles. This applicationis targeted on making lung rehabilitation exercises accessible toanyone with an Android device, providing patient breathing data,and a simple interface for exercising. Throughout the applicationslifetime, inhaling and exhaling data is saved and can be used toconstruct a model of the patients breathing cycle. Therefore,the application could provide vital information to aid in patientbreathing exercises and lung INTRODUCTIONMany ailments can be treated or its symptoms reducedusing breathing exercises.

3 These ailments include Chronic ob-structive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma, and is one of the most common long-term medical con-dition in the world and the United States twenty-two millionpeople suffer from it [1]. Worldwide Asthma is responsiblefor approximately 250,000 deaths annually [1].The most actionable practice to help sufferers of Asthmahas proven to be breathing retraining. Breathing retrainingattempts to normalize patients breathing pattern. Breathingretraining typically teaches slower breathing, longer exhales,and less air per Breath [3].

4 While breathing retraining hasnot proven to aid pulmonary function, it has reduced theeffect of Asthmas symptoms and patients tend to require theirmedication less frequently [3].In order to practice breathing retraining patients must haveaccess to a training Instructor. This however, can be expensiveand time consuming. The proposed application can act as aninexpensive substitute for classes. Workouts can be done atany time in contrast to breathing classes which requires usersto meet at a scheduled addition to Asthma, COPD is also a health issue thatcan be treated with breathing exercises.

5 There is believed tobe three million cases of COPD in the with only ninehundred thousand diagnosed. COPD is also the second mostcommon cause of emergency hospital admission [4]. COPDcan be treated with routine cardiovascular exercise but is oftenleft untreated or ignored. In the , of those withCOPD are 55 or older [5].Going to the gym, for those with COPD, can be frustratingdue to the need to periodically stop. However, by not exer-cising, COPD becomes worse. The severity of COPD mayrequire costly hospital visits which account for half the priceof caring for people with COPD [4].

6 To increase training accessibility for patients with Breath -ing disorders, this work presents a Smartphone-Based breathexergaming system, namely Flappy Breath . The system com-prises breathing input devices and a software app. Specifically,the breathing sensing device has two options, a Bluetooth chestbelt and a built-in microphone, and the app processes the sen-sor data to control a mobi-game. The Flappy Breath system islow-cost and convenient to use. The gamified exercise programacts like a personal trainer; it allows users to exercise wherethey choose and access a breathing technique specifically madefor their SYSTEMDESCRIPTIONA.

7 OverviewFlappy Breath requires an Android Device and either adis-placement sensor built-in microphone or a Bluetooth chestbelt. For testing a Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 wereused. The system diagram is shown in Figure Breathing Input DevicesIn the system design, we consider two approaches to detectbreathing: , acoustic sensor ( , microphone) and displace-ment sensor (chest stretchable belt).1) Acoustic Sensor:Most Android devices have built inmicrophones. Our application also allows users to plug inan external microphone at any time.

8 With the microphone,the application can obtain the current frequency and strengthof input sound. The application uses a calibration activity tosave the frequency of silence, inhaling, and exhaling. Theapplication also calculates the average volume of inhaling andexhaling to determine how The application can also connectto a Bluetooth chest belt. The belt transmits data detailing x,y, and z-direction acceleration and the current size of chestexpansion (stretch sensor). The application uses the stretchsensor to determine if the user is breathing (stretching) orexhaling (compressing).

9 During testing the application wasable to record seven hours of data without error and can beseveral feet away from the phone. Battery life on the belt isalso very high, lasting for over a month of ) Displacement Sensor:There are a few off-the-shelfwearable sensors to measure the breathing, such as Wahoo[6] and Advanpro [7]. In this prototype, we choose Advanprobreath belt. The belt has a built in stretch sensor that provides avery precise position of the users chest. Also, it has integratedwith a 3-axis accelerometer to measure the motion.

10 The stretchFig. 1. System architecture of motion data can be streamed to the smartphone throughthe , users are required to perform a microphone cali-bration before the game starts, the belt once it is connectedcan jump directly into the game. The Bluetooth belt is morecomfortable since users hands are freed. Using the microphonerequires users to hold the microphone to their ) Comparison of two sensing modes:Both the microphoneand belt approach have their own benefits and flaws. Detectingbreathing on a microphone is easier to use and is no additionalcost.