2018 Volume 45 Issue 2 Pages 87-92
As a problem-solving approach, three steps are needed to spread biofeedback tools in ‘society'. The first one is to set a hypothesis how and where such tools are desirable to be used. The second is to estimate resources required for introducing and running the tools continuously. The third is to decide processes for preparation of implement. Based on these three steps, it is vital to exchange opinions with companies having the possibility to be related to the further hypothesis setting and reinforcement, to identify any stakeholders and to work on interested parties and government.
An example of the problem-solving approach, ‘gamification' was introduced at this symposium. An application of mental health promotion related to cognitive-behavioral therapy was developed with cooperation of a major game company (Nakao et al. the 42th Annual Conference of the Japanese Society of Biofeedback, 2014). The application had been released for one year between 2016 and 2017, and the annual number of download was more than 10 thousand. At the same time, the program of the cognitive behavioral therapy was improved to be installed for full specification of the application, and to conduct the randomized trial (Shirotsuki K, et al. BioPsychoSoc Med Sep 19, 11 : 2, 2017). Such practice was adopted as one of “mibyo” projects in Kanagawa prefecture with 3-year research grant between 2015 and 2017. Through the research activity during the three years, we got four insights to indicate directions for utilization of biofeedback in an age of information and communication technology and artificial intelligence. The four directions are the implementation of wearable terminals (monitoring of health condition), utilization of life-assisted tools (assistance of daily life function), utilization of biofeedback systems in life space (personal-environment interface), and new role of biofeedback specialists (human resource development to be leaders for health management).
