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Product Watch - TouchPoints: An Easy Way To Reduce Stress And Anxiety
TouchPoints: An Easy Way To Reduce Stress And Anxiety
Chasen Banks
Just like everyone else, I get stressed. Trying to meet deadlines, sitting in a traffic jam caused by everyone deciding to slow down and look at a car with their hazard lights on, navigating interpersonal relationships, and a myriad of external pressures that I’m expected to deal with.
Naturally, I was curious when I saw a product on Indiegogo called TouchPoints which made the bold claim to alleviate stress with the press of a button. These are noninvasive wearable devices that are worn on the user’s wrists. They connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth where one can either make adjustments or use settings already built into the app to help with various forms of stress.
How does it work?
On their website, Touchpoints are described as “wearables that are placed on both sides of your body and give gentle, haptic micro-vibrations that interfere with your body’s stress response.” This is in reference to their BLAST technology, which stands for Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulation-Tactile thereby overriding the body’s nervous system when it’s stressed and overwhelmed, allowing the body to relax. Dr. Amy Seiren, a neuropsychologist, and co-founder of the TouchPoints states that when we are stressed our Sympathetic nervous system takes over. Our Parasympathetic nervous system sends signals to the body causing to calm down, and as a result, we have the ability to show more empathy. TouchPoints elicit a stress-reducing response allowing us more easily tap into our Parasympathetic nervous system.
I tend to be very skeptical when companies make claims similar to those made by TouchPoints, but after the 30-second TouchPoints challenge, I will admit I did notice a drop in my stress levels and felt an immediate release in tension throughout my body. This is no mere placebo effect, according to this peer-reviewed study, the BLAST technology used by TouchPoints, “has been shown to modulate the electrical activity of brain networks that mediate the stress response, resulting in a stress-reducing effect in individuals with high reported levels of anxiety, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.”
I continued to use TouchPoints for a couple of weeks and indeed noticed some changes. My stress levels went down and my focus increased. I remembered an incident specifically where I was having trouble getting through a chapter of a book. I found myself reading the same page over and over again. I used the focus setting and once again noticed an improvement in being able to concentrate on the task at hand. As for my stress levels I tend to get anxious when sitting in traffic. I’ve been using the touchpoints and have caught myself in the middle of getting anxious at times, telling myself to relax; something I rarely ever did before.
I was very curious and had a couple of my colleagues use TouchPoints, they all claimed to recognize a significant and swift change in their mood. I can definitely see how this could greatly provide relief to someone in the middle of a panic attack. This truly is a remarkable product and while I would not recommend it replace people who use medication for different anxiety disorders, it could be used in conjunction with medication to greatly help those in need. In fact, TouchPoints even has some case studies of helping kids with ADHD and Autism.
This screen shows how the vibrations can be adjusted via the TouchPoints app available on Android or IOS. One vibration is felt on one wrist, followed by the other. The app comes with settings to help with sleeplessness, anxiety, lack of focus, anger, and certain cravings. These can all be adjusted by:
frequency: how fast the vibrations move from one wrist to the other
intensity: how strong the vibrations can be felt
overlap: the length of time the vibrations can be felt on both wrists
Stress is something that is becoming all too common in our ever-growing society, so it is nice to see that there are people out there trying to make a difference. The touchpoints are very easy to set up and they work instantly. The one problem I had was the aesthetic of the two wristbands. Due to the way the technology works, it is a necessity to have them on both wrists, but as someone who likes to wear watches, it felt strange having something on my wrist that mimics the shape of a watch, maybe in the future there can be a new model with a watch on top.
We interviewed TouchPoints for even greater understanding
Q: What was the original motivation behind TouchPoints?
A: Stress is responsible for 80% of chronic disease. It inhibits our daily functioning by causing a lack of focus, poor sleep, unhealthy eating habits and so much more – but it is rarely given the recognition it deserves for wreaking havoc in our daily lives.
That’s why serial entrepreneur Vicki Mayo and neuropsychologist Dr. Amy Serin are on a mission to challenge the status quo in the way stress is understood and managed. Traditional methods of managing stress require a significant financial and time investment (therapy, medications, yoga, etc), so finding a way to regulate it while you go about your day represents a profound shift in the way we all can live more productive lives. Dr. Serin believes that managing stress on an ongoing basis is the key to preventing PTSD and other chronic physical and mental illnesses and is committed to improving the world with this neuroscience technology.
For the past decade, Dr. Serin was practicing neuropsychology and therapy. She found out EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapists treating PTSD in war-torn communities and often reported that after therapy people are less likely to get PTSD a second time. Unfortunately, many people don’t get any immediate or ongoing treatment after trauma, as one-on-one therapy is expensive and time-consuming. This was the inspiration behind TouchPoints — how do we bring this type of therapy to the mass market in an affordable, easy-to-use way? With advances in neuroscience, we were able to isolate a component of EMDR therapy (bilateral stimulation) into a consumer wearable (TouchPoints) so that people can be empowered outside of the doctor’s office to live a healthy, stress-free life.
Q: Can you explain to the layman what EMDR therapy is and how it relates to BLAST Technology?
A: EMDR Therapy is a comprehensive, 8-phase form of therapy that integrates bi-lateral stimulation in different forms along with the processing of upsetting memories. BLAST technology is a component of the therapy and Dr. Serin’s revolutionary research quantified using electroencephalogram data that the technology could be used to treat general stress anytime rather than being confined to therapy appointments. Many therapists use TouchPoints in session and people all over the globe are now using TouchPoints to relieve stress, improve sleep, improve performance, and reduce irritability.
Q: How expensive are the alternative treatments to TouchPoints, and how effective are they in comparison?
A: The cost of EMDR therapy can range depending on the therapist credentials and location. In our area, therapy ranges from $120-$250 per session. Other ways of managing stress include taking medication, which usually costs a monthly co-pay and may have side-effects. Meditation is generally free or can be done in conjunction with an app that has a monthly subscription and yoga classes can be free online or cost per class. TouchPoints are not a medical device and are not a cure for specific conditions, but can be used in conjunction with other therapies and a healthy lifestyle. We haven’t found a substitute that helps people de-stress while they go about their day, so this is a major advantage of TouchPoints
Q: Is it more effective to leave the TouchPoints on all day?
How you wear your TouchPoints is completely dependent on how much anxiety a person has. Stress is highly personal based on a complex set of risk factors (genetics, internal emotions, external environments) so some users ‘spot use’ TouchPoints for just a few minutes several times a day, and other users wear TouchPoints many hours during the day. They are more effective when turned on and should be left on during prolonged stressful situations such as giving a presentation, taking a test, or during a heated conversation.
Most TouchPoints users wear their TouchPoints preventatively or on-the-spot for 15 minutes before, during or after a stressful situation. However, we also have many users with Autism, ADHD, or Generalized Anxiety who prefer to wear their TouchPoints all day while in class or at work to regulate their central nervous system. TouchPoints are just as effective if worn for 15 minutes or all day and are actually helping your brain to create new neural pathways – so the next time you experience that same type of stress, it doesn’t feel so bad.
Q: Are there any other products on the market like this?
Most other wearables simply track and report your progress, whereasTouchPoints actually actively reduce stress non-invasively. Having the ability to think rationally without an associated body sensation helps the brain create new neural pathways that are net positive, and this has a lasting effect on your brain. Biofeedback products can help remind people to breathe or pay attention to their stress, but rely on the person to try to bring their stress levels down themselves and stop what they are doing. TouchPoints do the work for you.
Q: Can someone become so accustomed to the sensations of the touchpoints that they stop working?
A: The BLAST technology delivers gentle, non-invasive stimulation that is received by the brain – so becoming accustomed to the stimulation on your body does not alter the efficacy of the treatment. It’s just like listening to a song over and over- your brain may recognize the song but you are still able to hear it no matter how many times you listen to it.
Q: What would you say to people who think this is just a placebo effect?
A: Double-blind placebo-controlled research is used to distinguish placebo effects from real effects of a treatment. Our double-blind placebo-controlled research is showing a spike in cortisol levels (a stress hormone) in the placebo condition vs. no significant increase in cortisol in the active conditions when TouchPoints are on and synchronized. This rules-out the placebo effect. Generally, the placebo effect can account for a 30-40% success rate and our success rate and significance in several samples of thousands of people show a much higher rate of success and between a 62-74% reduction in stress in 30 seconds.
Q: What plans are in store for the future of touchpoints?
A: We are expanding our message of hope for people to #PressAndDestress with TouchPoints and going global with our products. We also have a new app (available on iOS and Android) where users can take their “Personalized Stress Profile” quiz to determine which type of stressful personality they are, read lifestyle tips on how to manage that type of stress, and determine best ways to use their TouchPoints. We continue to innovate and improve based on customer feedback and are adding exciting functionality to our app in the coming months.
The touchpoints are available for sale on their website. The Original model runs at $250, while the basic model runs at $160. The basic model comes with three basic yet popular settings: Sleep, Calm, and Anger. The Original runs a bit higher but gives the user more control when it comes to the settings. Our readers get a 10% discount on orders of $99 or more when they enter in the promo code ‘PRODUCTWATCH’.
*This article first appeared in Product Watch by Chasen Banks. To read the full article, click here.
Well Connected Mom - Relieve Stress in Minutes Without Medication
Relieve Stress in Minutes Without Medication
Last year we introduced to our readers ReliefBand. ReliefBand uses proprietary programmed pulses to send a signal to relieve nausea. It really works and I don’t travel on boats/ships without it.
Today we’d like to introduce TouchPoints to you. TouchPoints is a similar device in the sense that it uses using neuroscientific technology, involving electrical pulses, to relieve stress by over 70% in as little as 30 seconds.
In fact, to be more specific, “TouchPoints uses Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulation Tactile (BLAST) stimulation to give the user a gentle vibration that affects the brain and alters the body’s fight, flight or freeze response.”
Wow, is that even possible? Yes, it is, we tested it. In fact, I wore the TouchPoints bracelets during the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Why? With over 4,000 exhibits to see and 185,000 people, let alone all of that exciting technology and accessories, your blood tends to pump a little. I used TouchPoints to help settle me. Did it work?
Can TouchPoints Really Reduce Stress in Minutes?
Yes. I felt calmer. But to drive the point further, when I stopped by the TouchPoints booth at CES (when I wasn’t wearing them), they had me sit down and they took my blood pressure. My blood pressure was 131/99 with a heart rate of 66. My blood pressure is usually 120/78 and my heart rate is normally 65.
I then put on my TouchPoint bracelets for several minutes and my blood pressure went to 121/88 and my heart rate slowed to 64 beats per minute. Now mind you, all the chaos was still going on around me – thousands of people around, loud talking, people in the TouchPoints booth asking questions, waiting for their turn to have their blood pressure read.
An interview was going on in the booth, showing TouchPoints to TV show videographers. Things were happening, yet I was getting calmer. The CES Show is no place for peaceful blue skies, chirping birds, a placid lake, or other calming cues. So to be in the midst of chaos and obtain a state of calm is near impossible. But it is possible with TouchPoints.
So, What are TouchPoints?
TouchPoints are sold with two bracelets that you slip on each of your wrists. You need two of them to tag team each other and work throughout your body. Although I should note, that they do not need to be on your wrists. You can also clip them to your clothing or keep them in your hands, they just need to be on opposite sides of your body.
TouchPoints will send alternating pulse BLAST vibrations on your wrists which can actually calm your brain, thus calm your heart rate and pulse. The vibration is noticeable and audible, but it does not hurt or tickle. If you purchase the TouchPoints Original, you will sync your TouchPoints to the app to choose between six presets:
- Sleep
- Focus
- Craving
- Calm
- Performance
- Anger
Or you can customize your own sensations by altering the Frequency, Intensity, and Overlap of the alternating pulses and even create your own favorite settings (up to 3).
TouchPoints Help Children and Adults in a Number of Ways…
Stress
As you could see from my blood pressure results above, TouchPoints have an almost immediate way to reduce your body’s response to stress.
In fact, case studies conducted by TouchPoints that people using TouchPoints with generalized stress showed a 90% reduction in headaches while increasing the quantity and quality of their sleep. They also improved their productivity.
ADHD
There are over 6 million children diagnosed with ADHD in the United States. Although TouchPoints cannot make ADHD disappear, they can do a remarkable job in helping children (and adults) focus and reduce their normal activity impulses.
Does your child have trouble completing simple tasks in the morning to get to school? How about focusing on tasks? Can s/he stay in his/her seat during school? TouchPoints can help.
In this ADHD case study, a 14-year old boy wore TouchPoints in the morning for a 1/2 hour while getting ready for school and things became much easier…for him and his exhausted mom. She couldn’t believe the difference. Her son also wears them in school to help him stay in his seat.
After one month of the daily use of TouchPoints this 14-year old boy achieved…
- A 45% reduction in anxiety
- A 25% reduction in hyperactivity
- A 36% improvement in attention
- His 2.3 GPA rose to 3.1 GPA
- More self-confidence
- Improved relationships with parents
Oh, and the average hours of homework he used to spend were reduced by an hour a day.
Autism
Does your child or a child you know have autism? One in 68 people is diagnosed with Autism. Typically, a child with autism can be obsessive, hyperactive, irritable, angry, reactive, has little eye contact with others, and can refuse to do their work. That was the case with the 10-year-old boy in this Autism case study.
He would come home exhausted each day from sensory overload at school and his teacher, I’m sure exasperated. TouchPoints changed all this. No, TouchPoints didn’t cure him, but after regular use, he had…
- A 60% reduction in leaving the classroom
- A 50% reduction in angry outbursts with lower intensity
- Easier transitions
- Better sensory integration
- Improved eye contact
- Less hyperactivity
In fact, his teacher was so impressed with the difference that she requested that the school has extra TouchPoints on hand in every classroom to use as needed.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Over 24 million people are living with PTSD. They have had experienced traumatic events in their lives that they can’t get over. They experience immense stress, negative thoughts, hyperarousal, and can’t get past re-experiencing or reliving the traumatic event over and over again.
TouchPoints can be used to help manage panic attacks, decrease or prevent angry outbursts, diminish unhealthy cravings, and improve their quality of sleep.
Sleeplessness
Over 50 million people suffer from a sleep disorder. Do you, your child, or other family member have trouble falling asleep or waking up numerous times during the night? The quality of your sleep has A LOT to do with how productive your day is going to be.
Using TouchPoints 15 minutes before falling asleep can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. You’ll notice the difference right away. If you’re one who stays up at night thinking about all the things that need to be done in the morning, TouchPoints will help you immensely.
So Why Haven’t You Heard of TouchPoints?
One of the founders of TouchPoints, Dr. Serin, used quantitative electroencephalogram data, existing neuroscientific research, and archival data to see the impact BLAST technology can do with just a few seconds of use.
BLAST has been used in doctor offices for years, but after seeing the immense benefits, Dr. Serin teamed up with entrepreneur Vicki Mayo to bring this amazing technology to the masses in 2015.
The TouchPoints company isn’t backed by a huge company with deep pockets. It’s a smaller company with a mission to reach families and adults who either can’t afford such treatments in a doctor’s office or most likely never knew this technology existed. Dr. Serin and Mayo’s mission is to make it affordable and available.
TouchPoints Original is rechargeable and comes with an app for customization. At careful glance, you’ll see they are made of plastic; they do not look like a suped-up fitness watch or even possess the style and glamor of a Samsung or Apple watch. It’s not the cover of the book that possesses the beauty, but what is on the inside that counts.
The TouchPoints BLAST technology can rock your world.
TouchPoints Come in Two Versions:
- Original has 6 settings to help with calm, sleep, focus, anger, performance, and cravings. In addition, TouchPoints Original comes with an app, offering additional customization.
- Basic, offered at a reduced price, has 3 settings to help with sleep, calm, and anger and does not need an app to begin working.
TouchPoints Basic kit for $160 or the Original kit for $260, pre-order them directly from the TouchPoints website. Wristbands are also offered in assorted colors, starting at $20. TouchPoints sent me a pair of the Stainless Steel Mesh wristbands (offered for $10 more) and I highly recommend them. They are magnetic and super easy to slide on and off.
A Mom’s Perspective
TouchPoints work through the use of Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulation – Tactile (BLAST) which send alternating vibrations through your body to alter the Fight, Flight, or Freeze response to stress. With as little as 30 seconds, your homeostatic nervous system can return to normal, giving you clarity and a calmness not thought possible minutes before.
Once you begin TouchPoints, you will hear them working…unfortunately, others can hear them too on your wrists. You also need to recharge them after every use. But they do work and can help with stress, focus, and performance.
Believe it or not, one in three Americans suffer from extreme stress. TouchPoints can help with this. But you can benefit from TouchPoints even when not feeling stress. Use it daily for preventative measures to start your day more calmly, improve your focus and performance, and even reduce anger. Use them before bed to prepare yourself for sleep.
Is your child anxious before a speech or test? Let him/her use them. Your husband has too much on his plate? Perhaps he needs to try them too.
We were really excited to learn about TouchPoints and how they can remarkably change a state of mind within as little as 30 seconds. We can’t wait to hear your stories of how TouchPoints has changed your family life (or personal life) for the better!
*This article first appeared in Well Connected Mom on April 6, 2018, by . To read the full article, click here.
NeuroTech X Medium - TouchPoints — End your stress & Energize your mind
TouchPoints — End your stress & Energize your mind
TouchPoints are a one of a kind, non-invasive way to help us train our brain to mitigate stressful situations. It uses patent-pending BLAST (Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulation Tactile) technology to deliver gentle, haptic micro vibration patterns to stimulate Neuronal Pathways. This shifts the user out of the sympathetic nervous system and into the parasympathetic mode, which enables calm nervous system functioning. Over the past decade, Co-Founder of The TouchPoint Solution, neuropsychologist Dr. Amy Serin studied neuro-therapy specifically with QEEG, trying to find a solution for PTSD.
As a result of her research, we got TouchPoints, a well packaged well designed, ready to use out of the box device. All you have to do is download the TouchPoint app (available on iOS and Android), pair the device and start the process. One thing that we found a bit confusing (yet well thought) were the clips versus the wrist straps. We didn’t know which to use at first, but after the first use you get yourself acquainted and you’ll be able to use the TouchPoints in different situations. While working or running you can have it on the wrist strap, and when giving a presentation or when with kids you can have it clipped onto your pockets or belt loops. The difference in both mounts has no effect on the stimulation itself.
After you launch the application, a good questionnaire was put in place for baseline and mental profile creation. It is composed of simple questions that collect and give information related to general stress and ways to cope with this stress identified by six profile types (scattered, overwhelmed, wired, hot, veiled and craver). After the questionnaire, users are encouraged to take a quick challenge by thinking about a stressful situation and how that affects your body (i.e. stomach butterflies and tightness in the chest). After rating your stress on a scale of 1 to 10 before using TouchPoints, you then put them on for 15 minutes and watch your stress melt away! Kind of like a training zapper that obliges your brain to shift its attention.
“Challenge Mastered! I went from a 10 to a 6 in 30 seconds. Join the revolution! thetouchpointsolution.com #TouchPointsChallenge #TouchPointsRevolution”
Within the application, you can select what you want to train for. You can choose from six different pre-settings: Calm, Focus, Sleep, Anger, Performance and Craving. Each setting has its own parameters for frequency, intensity, and overlap of vibrations and from the names used you can know what each setting is for. You can also check out the QuickStart guide or the YouTube videos: https://youtu.be/o5jO0ssMcwo
After few days of training, you will discover where and how to best use your TouchPoints. Personally, I identified stressful situations in a context where I have to avoid fear — like stage fear or before an exam. I face this type of stress when I have a public talk or a conference to give, and I felt TouchPoints helped me eliminate the stress in my brain. Other areas they cover include General Stress, ADHD, Autism, Sleeplessness, and PTSD. I didn’t have the time to try them all yet, but I did try it on my kid, and to be honest, I was impressed to watch him change from an agitated situation to calm in minutes. This could be due to the use of a new tool or the tickling sensation he gets from the device.
So, I decided to do the exercise on a daily basis with him and put the TouchPoints on every day when he gets home from daycare. After the second day he started asking for them, but still, I wasn’t convinced about the effect it was creating and how it was actually working. I had to do some extra testing and I decided to hook myself up with the NeuroServo hat, a device that shows the Focus and Perturbation levels using a light pattern on the hat itself. You can read more about Neuroservo via our Medium Article, but generally, it is Red light for Focus and Blue light for perturbation.
During the first test with EEG Neuroservo, the Focus function made the light go red in a matter of minutes. The most important aspect here is not to bring the light to Red using the TouchPoints, it is more of adapting your brain to shifting attention. Several exercises exist in research to help you do so, and for me now TouchPoints is one easy solution but I can not confirm it yet. We need additional user research to be conducted with proper protocols to determine whether it’s the vibration effect that is making your brain shift its attention or it is really Neural Pathways that are being shifted and modulated.
If you wish to purchase a set of TouchPoints you can visit their online store at https://thetouchpointsolution.com/pages/shop-touchpoints
None of the links is an affiliate link, and all the information provided in this article is for general information and review purposes only and is the expressed opinion of myself, Ferdinand Ephrem and not the Publication. This includes (but is not limited to) my membership organizations and the product manufacturers.
*This article first appeared on NeuroTechX's Medium Blog on April 6, 2018, by Ferdinand Ephrem. To read the full article, click here.
Engadget - A pair of vibrating wearables kept me calm during the stress of CES
A pair of vibrating wearables kept me calm during the stress of CES
I'll admit I was skeptical at first. Can wearing two vibrating devices reallyreduce stress? That's what TouchPoints claims to do, and as I found out this week during a crazy day at CES, the company delivers on that promise. What's more, I have the brain scans to prove it.
The company was co-founded by neuropsychologist Dr. Amy Serin as part of her effort to help people who suffer from PTSD. During the course of her research, she discovered that wearing a pair of tiny pulsing gadgets can also help gifted children or stressed-out adults. In fact, she told me that the product is most popular among women ages 35 to 55, who are typically dealing with the stresses of managing family life and making sure the kids get from A to B with everything they need. TouchPoints can also help with things like night terrors or other sleep-related issues.
The devices are tiny squares about the size of a watch face. There's a single button for turning them on and off, and they'll automatically pair with your phone -- if you have Bluetooth turned on, of course. From there, a companion app will ask you a series of questions to determine your stress level before suggesting a preset. And yes, you can always switch to a new one or dial in the intensity and rhythm settings manually. TouchPoints can be placed on your wrists, in your pocket or anywhere you can feel the vibrations. However, you do have to wear two of them, since the soothing effect is creating by a pulsing back and forth. For that reason, I opted for the in-the-pocket method rather than slapping them on my wrists.
As a demonstration of how well TouchPoints work, the company offered brain scans here at CES. The first part of the test includes thinking about something super stressful and allowing a neuroscientist to take some detailed images of your brain activity. After that, I was handed a pair of vibrating TouchPoints and asked to think about the same stressful thing again, and more images were taken.
As you can see in the image above, the left is the first scan and the right side is the second. The beta frequency is associated with stress or overactivity in the brain -- as illustrated by the red dots in the first scan. Once I was handed the TouchPoints, though, I was never able to stress myself out to the same level as the first time around. Trust me, I tried. What's more, the pulsing sensation was quite soothing throughout almost a full day of wear. I had to remove them to charge in the early evening, otherwise I would've kept them on from morning until evening (more than eight hours). It was a lack of planning on my part, not due to any battery-life issues.
Sure, they work well, but there are a couple downsides to wearing TouchPoints. First, the vibrations are quite loud if you find yourself in a quiet room -- similar to the buzzing of a phone. I had to turn them off during an audio demo later in the day after some dirty looks from fellow show attendees. The second, for me, is the price. At $240, they're not something you'd purchase without some consideration. However, if they work for the masses as well as they worked for me -- and TouchPoints has plenty of research that says they do -- that's a small price to pay for drastically reducing your stress levels, being able to sleep better at night or getting helping with a range of neurological issues you might be facing.
Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.
*This article first appeared in Engadget on January 11, 2018, by Billy Steele. To read the full article, click here.
TechTrends - Product Review: TouchPoints™ basic
This stress-alleviating neuroscience wearable promises to aid in tackling symptoms of conditions such as ADHD and Autism
TouchPoints Basic are another crowdfunding success story. Originally founded in 2015 by Neuropsychologist Dr. Amy Serin and executive child advocate Vicki Mayo, After launching their first device – called TouchPoints Original and priced at $240 – in December 2016. In less than six weeks sales had topped $500,000.
Since then the pair have pursued their dream of helping more people get access the technology so this year they launched an Indiegogo campaign to develop a new, more affordable version of the device, at a much lower price point of $135. The response was incredible and by July 2017 they had reached almost $150,000, 956% of the initial goal, and aim to ship all campaign-related orders by the end of September.
These cunning little gadgets are non-invasive, wearable devices that use patent-pending neuroscience to relieve stress in as little as 30 seconds. Using quantitative electroencephalogram data, existing neuroscience research and archival data, Dr. Amy Serin determined the device produced significant and quantifiable brain changes after just seconds of use.
Over the last decade, Dr Serin’s work in therapy and neuroscience led to a breakthrough realization that a component of successful PTSD treatment could be used as a stand-alone product for a range of individuals whose stress and intensities hamper performance, relaxation, sleep, and their ability to cope with sensory stimuli.
TouchPoints use Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulation Tactile (BLAST) stimulation to give the user a gentle vibration that affects the brain and alters the body’s fight, flight or freeze response. Check out the TouchPoints Research page for links to the supporting in-house and academic studies.
We are deeply committed to giving back. It is our co-founders’ mission to create a more healthy, peaceful, and productive world through a fundamental shift in the way people understand and handle their stress response by making BLAST technology accessible for everyone.
Feeling pretty tightly wound, as usual, I was dying to experience the benefits of all that lovely science so I strapped on a pair, connected the app via Bluetooth and well… wow! Honestly, the experience was quite strange but after a few moments of tingling and getting used to the vibrations my mind felt clearer, or at least lighter and breathing was a little easier.
I was shocked at the speed of the reaction but the vibrations felt a bit too strong and a too distracting from my train of thought so I stopped them and reset the intensity via the app. With the setting now lower I tried again and left them on for five minutes. I felt a similar clearing of the mind and easing of the breathing but the effect was less strong this time, less abrupt. However, it persisted after I stopped the TouchPoints leaving me feeling calmer, I was genuinely impressed.
TouchPoints uses technology that gently interferes with the body’s stress response and produce a more calm, focused state. Thousands of users report they feel more calm, are able to sleep better, and perform better with use.
No doubt more tinkering with the settings in the app will help find the optimum set up for me but I can honestly say that TouchPoint are on to something here. As a next step, we’re interested to share this with my wife’s grandfather who suffers from Parkinson’s, as TouchPoints’ Indiegogo page reports positive results in helping alleviate anxiety in patients and even achieving reduction of tremors in some cases. Watch this space for updates!
*This article first appeared in Tech Trends on August 2, 2018, by Tom Atkinson. To read the full article, click here.
Militech - The TouchPoint Solution™ Launches 2nd Wearable Tech Product in 6 Months
The TouchPoint Solution™ Launches 2nd Wearable Tech Product in 6 Months | By Maciej Heyman
TouchPoints are non-invasive, wearable devices that use patent-pending neuroscience technology to relieve stress and anxiety, improve focus, reduce cravings, improve performance, manage anger, reduce
Scottsdale, Arizona (PRWEB) June 05, 2017
If there is one common factor afflicting this world, it’s stress. From increasing intrapersonal hostility to critically impairing the immune system, there is no debate over the detrimental consequences of stress. Since the launch of its premier neuroscientific stress-hacking wearable device, TouchPoints™ original, Scottsdale-based company The Touchpoint Solution™ has committed itself to shifting this power dynamic back into the hands of its users, empowering them to diminish up to 71% of their stress in just 30 seconds. Now, just six months after that initial campaign, the TouchPoint™ team has introduced its second wearable tech product, the widely anticipated TouchPoints™ basic, via an Indiegogo campaign on June 5th.
TouchPoints™ basic were designed with the user in mind, offering customers a streamlined model of the original stress-busting TouchPoint™ devices, perfect for customers looking for affordable, effective, fast-acting stress relief.
Similar to its first wearable tech product, TouchPoints™ original, TouchPoints™ basic use BLAST (Bi-lateral Alternating Stimulation Delivered Tactile) technology by emitting gentle, alternating vibrations to reroute the body’s stress-driven fight, flight, or freeze (F3) response and restore the nervous system to its normal functions, allowing users to think clearly and experience calm. The new devices come in a variety of fun, stylish colors, and operate independently of an app, making them ideal for users searching for powerful stress relief that is easily incorporated into everyday life.
“I’m a true believer of giving access to neuroscientific discoveries to everyone in need,” explained Dr. Serin, Ph.D., TouchPoint™ Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder. “It’s not fair to confine this technology to a doctor’s office. That was the main reason why I created TouchPoints™ and feel TouchPoints™ basic can impact even more people by making it more affordable and accessible to all.”
Based on the already successful product TouchPoints™ original, this new version is designed to relieve stress and anxiety, as well as improve focus, reduce cravings, improve performance, manage anger, reduce sensory overload, and promote more restful sleep.
TouchPoints™ basic are available to preorder starting at $99 at https://igg.me/at/touchpoints.
A set includes two TouchPoint™ devices (one for each side of the body) as well as charging cables, and clips for attaching the devices to clothes. Additional accessories, including colorful wristbands, are available for purchase separately.
Visit the TouchPoint Solution’s™ media page for more information (https://thetouchpointsolution.com/a/press-kit)
About The Touchpoint Solution™
Neuropsychologist Amy Serin, Ph.D., and child advocate Vicki Mayo founded The Touchpoint Solution™ in late 2015 with the mission of bringing relief to the millions of people who suffer from stress and anxiety. Over the last decade, Dr. Serin’s work in therapy and neuroscience led to the discovery that a component of successful PTSD treatment could be used as a stand-alone product for a range of individuals whose stress and intensities hamper performance, relaxation, sleep, and their ability to cope with sensory stimuli. Dr. Serin recognized that this method was too powerful to be confined to doctors’ offices and partnered with long-time friend and entrepreneur Vicki Mayo to bring TouchPoints™ to the world.
About TouchPoints™ basic
TouchPoints™ basic are non-invasive, wearable devices that use patent-pending neuroscience technology to relieve stress and anxiety, improve focus, reduce cravings, improve performance, manage anger, reduce sensory overload and promote more restful sleep. They come in a set to be worn on both the right and left side of the body, on wrists or in discrete locations such as in the hands, socks or pockets. TouchPoints™ basic are available to preorder starting at $99 at https://igg.me/at/touchpoints.
TouchPoints™ are a neuroscientific lifestyle device. They are not a substitute for medical treatment nor are they intended to cure any medical condition.
*This article first appeared in MilTech on June 05, 2017, by Maciej Heyman. To read the full article, click here.
TechDigg - Touchpoint Invents Two Little Squares That Reduce Stress and Help You Focus
For thosethat whosuffer with anxiety, nervousness, or even have trouble sleeping due to night terrors, there hasn’t really been a resource or aid to help with these conditions. We’ve tried medications, counseling, and other avenues, but nothing really worked. Now, however, a new system fromThe TouchPoint Solutions™seems to be the type of gadgets we’ve all been waiting for.
According to the company’s website, “TouchPoints™ are a non-iInvasive, wearable device that uses patent pending neuroscience to relieve stress in as little as 30 seconds.”
The wearable gives us a way to relieve stress and allow better focus during times in which we feel anxious. It’s super discreet and can either be worn on your wrist or placed in your pocket, as it works the same either way. The company stands by their statement that by using the devicefor as little asjust5 minutes a day, you can increase your overall performance and focus.
How does it work?
TouchPoints™ original is very easy to set up, which makes it ideal for users of all ages and technological savviness. The wearable itself just straps onto your wrist with ease, so it’s very simple to begin using.TouchPoints can also be worn in pockets, socks, or tank top straps. The wearables correspond with a smartphone app that allows the user to take advantage of multiple types of settings.
Through the app, you can choose one of six preset options that each have a particular center of attention: sleep, focus, craving, calm, performance, and anger. If none of these meet your individual needs, you can also set custom levels for frequency, intensity and overlap.
When you feel stressed or anxious, just simply turn the TouchPoints™ on and the you will feel a gentle bilateral vibration. press the button on either device and the signal is sent. “TouchPoints™ use BLAST technology transferring alternating vibrations to alter the body’s Fight, Flight or Freeze (F3) response to stress and anxiety and to restore homeostatic nervous system functioning, allowing you to think clearly and experience calm,”says the company.
Thecompany TouchPoint Solution™ has also begun manufacturing another generation of the device,TouchPoints™ basic. Thebasicversion still gets the job done by sending signals to help you stay calm and focused, but without having to use an app. The idea behind this version was to give those without constant access to a smartphone the same opportunity to use the gadget in the exact same way someone would be able to take advantage of the original version.
You can also choose from a range of colors for yourTouchPoints™ basicwearable – Fuschia Pink, Marine Green, Cornflower Blue, or Graphite Gray – whereas the TouchPoints™ originalcomes in Black only.
Who came up with TouchPoints™ and why?
I had the opportunity to speak with the co-founders of TouchPoints™, Dr. Amy Serin and Vicki Mayo to understand more about where the idea came from, how it came to fruition, and more. These two very inspiring ladies were more than happy to answer anyquestions I had.
What prompted you to develop such a product?
Serin: “I was aneuro psychologist for a decade and saw many patients without access to the things they needed. It was not fair to confine a device like this todoctors’ offices when we could allow open access for all. Stress is the culprit of our everyday lives and TouchPoints™ helps handle it.”
Mayo: “My daughter suffered from night terrors and after using TouchPoints™, she was able to sleep through the night and wake up without feeling cranky or tired. I told Dr. Serin about it and we began thinking of ways to get this type of device out to others who need it.”
Who is your target consumer and why?
Mayo: “Everyone. Anyone who suffers from stress, lack of focus, or anxiety.”
What kind of feedback have you received from consumers so far?
Serin: “Executives and professionals use to TouchPoints™ to improve performance, enable better sleep, and to calm down from anger and irritation in certain work situations. Moms use them for themselves and their children. They even share with friends who need it. Anesthesiologists, EMTs and other medical professionals also use the device on patients to help them overcome anxiety and stress.”
What do you say to those who are skeptical?
Serin: “First, I say ‘Thank you.’ I then urge them to read the research behind TouchPoints™.This isn’t newtechnology; it’s been used for decades. If you have a solid base of scientific data and proven use, then you have something good – and we know that. The device is non-invasive and if they just try it out they will see a difference in hope they feel and cope with stress.”
During research trials for TouchPoints™,71% of people saw a reduction in stress within the first 30 seconds.
Do you plan to further develop TouchPoints™?
Mayo: “TouchPoints™ originalwill see a few upgrades and wewilldevelop it further.In addition to the existing presettings for sleep, calm, optimizing performance, users will see a new analytics dashboard for easier navigation on the app.We are also working on a less expensive version that doesn’t need an app to work. On June 5, the TouchPoint™ basicIndiegogo campaign will launch.”
You can check out the Indiegogo campaign for TouchPoints™ basic here.
What’s next forThe TouchPoint Solution™?
Serin and Mayo have not just developed devices that can help us through everyday stressful situations, but they also work hard behind-the-scenes to create a more inclusive world around them.
Their company has set up a scholarship fund to help those who cannot afford access to TouchPoints™ be able to receive them and to tell their own stories of how the device is able to change their lives. To apply visit the website at ilovetouchpoints.com and fill out the simple application.
The company also helps people with disabilities be able to work by hiring them ontoThe TouchPoint Solution™ staff. For instance, every one of the TouchPoint™packages are filled and shipped by people who are legally blind. The ladies claim this is just one way the company tries to implement more ‘conscious capitalism.’
Here at TechDigg, we are inspired by more than just this really awesome gadget. The story of how TouchPoints™ came to be, the masterminds behind the project, and the upcoming devices and features that will help so many more people gain access to this gadget are all part of this great big world of innovation and passion. We are excited to see how TouchPoints™ grow and touch those who have been waiting so long for a device like this. You can check out the TouchPoints™ story and more for yourselfhere.
You can also support this awesome device on their IndieGOGO page here