Seeking to reduce people's stress levels, the Alphabeats app promises to help with one of the most important exercises for relaxation: listening to music. Without reducing the musical quality, the app adjusts the tone of what is being played. Thus, it seeks to make the listeners' experience more relaxing.
The app is designed to work with any style of music. In other words, users can use Alphabeats to listen to their favorite bands and singers. Even though the sound remains virtually unchanged for the listener, the brain perceives the difference and responds, making the person feel more relaxed, at least that's what the company guarantees.
According to Han Dirkx, CEO of the Dutch company responsible for developing the app, using Alphabeats is no different from doing relaxing activities like yoga or meditation.
How works
The application changes the bass and treble tones of the sound being played on the cell phone to provide a experience more relaxing. Alphabeats slows down the frequency of the music and thus reduces the user's stress level.
Initially, the developers sought to configure Alphabeats to respond to alpha and beta wave activity in the brain. To collect these signals, it would be almost inevitable that EEG sensors would be used. The devices would initially need to be embedded in headphones, which would probably have to be developed with the app.
However, those responsible decided to increase the focus on the app's algorithm's potential. Thus, respiratory rate and heart rate came into play. The result was that a regular cell phone and headphones could provide a relaxing experience.
Respiratory rate and heart rate
While lying down, the user only needs to place the phone on their chest to measure their respiratory rate. It is from this that Alphabeats will make the music more relaxing, regulating the bass and treble tones of the songs being played. The Beta version of the application is working under this signal input.
In order for the app to function based on signals collected from heart rate variability, wearables like the Apple Watches would be ideal, since they have sensors with this function. However, Alphabeats would need to have extensive access to the documentation for these hardware devices. This requires very complex negotiations with the companies.
Spotify and Deezer and commercial launch
Speaking of documentation difficulties, right now it is difficult to access the SDKs of the streaming services with which the Alphabeats Beta version is being tested. To adjust the tones of the songs that are played by Spotify or Deezer, the app is often blocked.
Even with these details, the Alphabeats already has a Beta version that aims to be ready in the second quarter of 2021 and is exploring partnerships with companies focused on well-being. Initially, it will be available for iOS and then for Android. A final commercial launch is being targeted for 2022 or later this year.
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