A study conducted by researchers at Aston University has revealed that a computer-based breathing coach can be just as effective as human trainers.

Breathing coaches guide individuals in various breathing techniques to improve their physical, mental, and emotional health. However, new research suggests that guidance from a virtual reality (VR)-supported breathing coach can be as relaxing as that provided by a trained professional.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many individuals, not only with respiratory infections but also with long-term anxiety and depression. While various medications are available to treat the physiological and psychological effects, one of the simplest and most commonly used methods is breathing exercises. However, the services of trained coaches are often paid, requiring individuals to invest both time and financial resources.

The researchers aimed to evaluate how people perceive a virtual coach and how effective it might be as an alternative to human trainers. For this purpose, they developed an online system with a series of breathing exercises that users can easily practice at home. The VR coach was designed with a human-like appearance and voice, and chest and head movements visualized the breathing process. The coach guided users through the breathing cycle: inhale, hold, exhale, and hold again.

After the study, 20 participants completed a survey. According to the results, 73% of participants found the virtual coach cute and trustworthy, 76% said it was easy to use, and 60% stated that they would consider using it again in the future.

The study, titled "The Usability, Acceptance, and Role of Realism of Virtual Humans in Breathing Exercise Training," was published in the journal Scientific Reports. The study was led by Dr. Ulysses Bernardet, a faculty member of computer science. Bernardet explained:

“The virtual human-human interaction provided by our system, while not at the same level as natural human interaction, shows that people are willing to use a virtual coach instead of a real one.”

Bernadet also touched upon the challenges people face in accessing healthcare, noting that many individuals turn to online platforms due to high costs and a lack of specialists. However, he emphasized that maintaining long-term use of such self-help applications can be difficult.

Professor Aniko Ekart, who contributed to the study, commented:

“In the future, as virtual humans become more photorealistic, both new challenges and significant opportunities will arise. Among the challenges are ethical concerns in the design and use process and ensuring visual and behavioral consistency. However, potentially, human-machine interaction could become as natural and seamless as human-human interaction.”

The researchers acknowledge that desktop systems provide only limited immersion into the virtual world and its effect on user experience. Therefore, they plan to use 3D immersive VR technology in future studies to examine the impact of virtual breathing coaches more comprehensively.