Financial Times, sep 26 1995

The fish on the computer screen swims to the right, then it swims to the left. It is controlled by the user’s thoughts, or so it seems. The images are generated by the RelaxPlus computer system, one of a growing number of software programs designed to reduce stress. Stress-related illness costs business and industry internationally billions of dollars a year through days lost at work. In the UK alone, estimates range from 40m-90m days lost a year. RelaxPlus is a "mind-activated" multimedia system developed by Ultramind, of the UK. Its game Evolve uses "biofeedback" techniques to measure a user’s relaxation levels. Sensors detect and amplify changes in the user’s physical states that are not normally visible. Electrodes tapped to fingers measure galvanic skin resistance (electrical conductivity- more sweat increases conductivity) which is affected by internal responses reflecting a user’s relaxation level. Data are transmitted by a cordless infra-red link to a personal computer. Pattern -recognition displays the feedback in real-time in the form of graphics, music and animation: relax, and the fish turns into a mermaid, a woman floats up into the sky as an angel, then a star. Tense up and the evolution reverses and the image may turn back into a fish. In Evolve 2, a jellyfish becomes a dinosaur, a caveman and finally a spaceman. The computer is controlled indirectly by the user’s thoughts and emotions. By responding to what they see, user’s learn when and how to relax. An exercise program shows a man sitting in a chair and indicates which parts of the body to tense or relax. A balloon goes up or down as the user responds. "The theory is that once you have learned to relax, you no longer rely on the product, but it is in the organisation if you need it" says David Kessler, assistant to the managing director at Tuner. The program measures conscious and unconscious processes simultaneously with biofeedback, the company says. It measures the user’s responses to questions, music, voice and pictures and reacts immediately with advice on how to relax, such as asking the user to breathe more deeply. Another system on the market is Wellbeing, a multimedia diagnostic training program, with video, graphics, text, voice-overs and sound. The preventative stress management program, launched this month, was developed by Kite Multimedia Solutions of the UK. At the heart of the Wellbeing software is the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI), a diagnostic tool. The program gives user’s an indication of their stress level and the source of the stress, producing a profile which is then set against 10000 others on a database. The user is given a general stress profile and a personal development plan. "OSI assesses personality, reactions to stress, pressure and the ways you are currently using to cope and the computer selects the training most useful to you," says David Walters, marketing director at Kite. Stress profiles of groups help organisations to target remedial action rather than wasting time and resources by responding too generally, he adds. The software was developed by Cary Cooper, a professor at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, and Stephen Williams, an organisational psychologist. "What people are not doing is finding out what the problem is ahead of time, so we could get rid of it before it damages people. Once you know that, you can intervene with the appropriate approach" says Cooper. "OSI is just one tool among many to identify problems within an organisation." Stress has always existed, says Cooper, but the changing nature of work and society is more mobile. People don´t live near their extended family, don´t have a strong sense of community and the support systems they had 30-50 years ago. Roderick Jackson, a stress counsellor, says that effective counselling can help individuals attain "a more balanced perspective and to feel more in control". Jackson advises exercise to reduce adrenaline levels and to dissipate tension. While high-tech solutions are moving into the office, there are still ancient remedies. Robert Holden, a psychotherapist, says there is renewed interest in laughter as a therapy. Health care professionals are becoming increasingly aware that health, humour and happiness are interrelated.

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