RunMe: An Adaptive Sound System for Running Meditation

RunMe is an adaptive sound system designed to support running meditation. Unlike existing meditation technologies that provide one-way stimuli, RunMe integrates stimulation and regulation mechanisms that adapt sounds to runners' biodata. In a comparison against three conditions—non-adaptive sound, favorite music, and no music—the RunMe group showed better attention regulation, body awareness, exercise motivation, and mindfulness. The system aims to make running meditation accessible without specialized equipment. The authors discuss the design framework, practical distinctions, implications, and future directions for advancing running meditation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Running has emerged as an alternative to traditional meditation practices that involve sitting with closed eyes. The rhythmic nature of running establishes a connection between mind and body to promote mindfulness and improve the overall experience and benefits of running. The use of technology-supported meditation is gaining attention in the fields of mental and physical wellness. However, existing meditation technologies primarily focus on one-way stimuli for sitting or walking meditation, with little emphasis on adaptive design and development for running meditation. To address this issue, we present the design framework and system development of RunMe, an adaptive sound system specifically designed for running meditation. RunMe integrates stimulation and regulation mechanisms to enhance adaptive data interactions between the sounds and runners’ biodata. We compared the significance of the RunMe group with three other groups: use of non-adaptive sound, use of favorite music, and use of no music/sound. The results show that the RunMe group outperforms the other groups in attention regulation, body awareness, exercise motivation, and mindfulness. Importantly, RunMe has the potential to allow users to engage in running meditation without specialized equipment, making it accessible for daily practice. We also discuss the design framework and practical distinctions of RunMe, as well as the design implications and future directions for advancing running meditation.