Digital Home Thoughts: Journey to Wild Divine

Games People Play
Computer entertainment is a billion dollar industry that drives much of the technology we utilize every day. It has grown from a niche market to mainstream in a few decades. We have seen tremendous visual advancements during this time, moving from tiny squares and shapes to photo-realistic 3D graphics. While graphics have improved exponentially, the way we interact with these game worlds has remained relatively the same. There have been a few experiments and innovations and some special application controls, like steering wheels, gloves and paddles, but the mouse, keyboard, gamepad and joystick still reign.

The Wild Divine offers a unique type of input that is based on biofeedback. That is, it measures heart rate variability and skin conductance through an external USB device dubbed "the lightstone". What this means is that your performance and advancement in the game is based on your ability to control internal processes. The lightstone has clamps that fit on your three middle fingers.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is an interesting measurement which, among other things, scientists are using to assess the negative effect of stress on the cardiovascular system. HRV is determined by the fluctuations in the beat-to-beat intervals of the heart. Studies have shown that increasing your HRV can have a positive effect on stress, anxiety and disease. Skin Conductance (SC) is also a way to determine the effect of stress on the body. When we sweat, the skin is more easily able to conduct a current. Both HRV and SC are a reflection of our autonomic nervous systems, which control many organs and muscles within the body. Using biofeedback we can see a measurement of these metrics and learn to alter them.


Figure 1: The lightstone hooks into the USB port on the computer and connects to your three middle fingers.

Besides learning a basic set of rules, one's skill in most action video games is directly related to his or her ability to learn and use the controls. I can recall countless times where I learned to press a series of buttons over and over just the right way to get further in a game. The Wild Divine takes this concept to a new level because learning to master the controls has a physiological effect on your body that can be utilized outside the game world. In this way, the Journey to Wild Divine acts as part game and part trainer. The benefits of this inner control can be applied to areas like stress reduction, relaxation and focus. Because of this, the game cannot be played passively. Like learning any new skill, it requires attention and awareness. However, there is a certain "aha!" moment when each new challenge is mastered.