Demonstrating Augmented Breathing via Thermal Feedback in the Nose

We demonstrate a novel method to augment the feeling of breathing—enabling interactive applications to let users feel like they are inhaling more/less air (perceived nasal airflow). We achieve this effect by cooling or heating the nose in sync with the user’s inhalation. Our illusion builds on the physiology of breathing: we perceive our breath predominantly through the cooling of our nasal cavities during inhalation. This is why breathing in a “fresh” cold environment feels easier than in a “stuffy” hot environment, even when the inhaled volume is the same. Following, we engineered a compact device worn across the septum that uses Peltier elements. We illustrate the potential of this augmented breathing in a demonstration with two tracks: a fast track for a quick experience and a slow track for an immersive virtual reality (VR) walkthrough. In the fast track, visitors can quickly experience altered breathing perception using a simple application and our devices. In the slow track, visitors can put on a VR headset and experience an interactive scene where their sense of breathing is altered (e.g., rendering ease of breathing crisp air or difficulty breathing with a deteriorated gas mask).