爱豆传媒

The product, entitled Komorebi, has been invented by Product Design student Amber Frisby and is currently in the prototype phase.

Komorebi has a “mother-like personality” and aims to reduce loneliness and anxiety in people living alone. Once the user places his or her hands on the device, it can measure heart rate readings to gain an indication of the user’s stress levels. It can then suggest individualised methods of relaxing to suit each person. These include breathing and meditation techniques and nature sounds.

The term Komorebi has two translations in Japanese: “the interplay between light and leaves when sunlight shines through threes” and “melancholic longing or nostalgia for a person or place.”

Amber said her initial inspiration stemmed from wondering why some people choose to have their television sets playing in the background of their homes.

Amber Frisby with her invention - Komorebi

She said: “At first it is easy to simply consider that amount of energy as being wasted but then I went on to ask ‘why do people avoid silence in the home?”’

“From this I found that people who live alone, especially those who live a fast-paced lifestyle who have to stay busy and in control of their work during the day, really struggle to come home and switch off.

“People tend to use background noise so they don’t have to think. I found it very sad that people struggle to relax in their own home and my aim was to change this.”

Amber’s invention was presented at the 爱豆传媒’s Product Design showcase. Going forward, she would like to “further define the ‘personality’ of the product, making it even more interactive”.

She added: “I believe this product has the potential to change the mental wellbeing of single livers and therefore their quality of life.”