Biohacking Devices: Enhancing Human Performance With Technology

Biohackers employ technology tools to maximize both their physical and mental well-being. From cold immersion devices such as the Cold Plunge Tub to cognitive enhancement tools like Liftid neurostimulation, these DIY initiatives aim to maximize performance without pharmaceuticals or other dangerous substances.

Fitness trackers have become ubiquitous, but some biohackers utilize other tools to track heart rate variability and sleep patterns. Other innovations include nutrient delivery systems and smart clothing with sensors.

Wearable Health Monitors

Wearable devices can be powerful tools in helping individuals track and improve their health by monitoring nutrition, exercise and sleep patterns. Wearables help engage patients by giving them access to their health data on demand; this enables more proactive self-care strategies and could save lives in cases of cardiac arrest or other health emergencies.

No matter your goal for optimizing body and mind health, the right technology can make all the difference. Devices like Garmin and Oura offer fitness tracking with personalized coaching capabilities as well as elegant designs integrated with artificial intelligence algorithms for greater optimization of both mind and body.

Apollo Neuro’s wearable headset uses vibrations to help improve stress resilience and sleep quality by stimulating the nervous system through a custom app. You can customize this device so it delivers vibrations at times when they can help you feel energized, focused or relaxed – or schedule it so vibrations come on whenever they’re needed – on a schedule of your choosing. EEG technology scans brainwaves and plays sounds based on what the device detects as happening inside of your mind.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) has rapidly transformed from entertainment to a tool in education, science, and training fields. Surgeons use VR for incisionless practice without making incisions while pilots train for dangerous scenarios prior to entering their cockpits and soldiers engage in realistic combat simulations with no risk involved.

VR provides researchers with unparalleled data collection abilities for research purposes. Its immersive experience increases participant engagement and encourages more authentic responses, which enables researchers to collect a range of biometric information.

VR offers a more realistic and controlled environment to study complex cognitive functions like attention and memory that are difficult to replicate in laboratory settings. VR technology addresses a common issue in cognitive science known as ecological validity – when test conditions do not reflect real life – providing more accurate interpretation of results as well as greater transferability from potential VR training effects into real performance gains.

Blue Light Glasses

Blue light glasses have experienced an exponential surge in popularity, particularly among people suffering from eye strain and poor sleep due to prolonged digital screen use. Manufacturers claim their blue light glasses prevent retinal damage as well as computer vision syndrome (DES). Furthermore, their lenses feature filtering materials or coatings which limit how much blue light escapes screens.

Though these lenses can help relieve eye strain, research remains inconsistent and additional studies must be completed. To minimize screen time and help improve sleep quality, the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises limiting screen time before bed and using devices in dim or dark mode before going to sleep.

Blue light can increase wakefulness and attention while simultaneously disrupting sleep-wake cycles and leading to headaches and fatigue, especially among night owls who find it hard to fall asleep at an acceptable hour. Our lenses contain special technology which filters or blocks a portion of blue light emitted by screens or lighting sources.

EEG Technology

EEG is a neurotechnological device used to measure electrical brain activity. Unlike fMRI, SPECT, PET or MRS that require expensive liquid helium detectors and 1-ton magnets in magnetically shielded rooms for analysis, EEG can be performed at home with inexpensive equipment (Pathirana 2018).

Commercial EEG devices such as the EPOC X headset from EMOTIV and hands-free games such as Unicorn Horn allow users to control their avatar solely with their thoughts. Other applications use EEG for monitoring and interpreting brainwave patterns; one example being Cyborg Artist Neil Harbisson’s implanted antenna which converts colors to sounds via bone conduction.

HR teams can use EEG technology to analyze how workplace environments impact employees’ cognitive abilities, which allows them to create a more diverse workforce that capitalizes on different cognitive strengths for creativity and problem-solving. Studies have indicated that long meetings and back-to-back meetings may decrease workers’ focus.