We don’t often write about health and wellness devices on Kickstarter or Indiegogo before the products actually ship. However, we occasionally make an exception for unique solutions for common problems or concerns. That’s the case with Solace, a huggable vibroacoustic speaker. According to Salt Lake City-based Solace, its eponymous device can relieve your anxiety with low frequency music vibration when you hold it against your body.
Myriad empirical studies support the positive effectiveness of mindfulness on psychological health. A review of mindfulness studies by the departments of psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience at Duke University lists increased subjective well-being; reduced psychological symptoms and emotional reactivity; and improved behavioral regulation as the headline positive effects of mindfulness. We’ve written about mindfulness innovations such as the Reflect Orb sensor feedback ball and research at the University of Utah Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND) on the effect of mindfulness on opioid use and chronic pain.
Combining vibration and sound, the Solace device is safe, drug-free, non-invasive, and simple to use, the company states. You can use a Solace to find relief from anxiety, insomnia, pain, or PTSD… or use it just to feel more relaxed. The device has a huggable shape that conforms to your body. To use the Solace, start by charging the device then associate it with a free app on your mobile device. Open the app and choose from a selection of vibroacoustics including meditation music, healing tones, binaural beats, and a cat’s purr. You can also use your own mindfulness music. The Solace body has patterns of holes for touch sensations, volume and vibration level controls, and a headphone jack.
The Solace is scheduled to ship in early 2023 for $160 plus shipping. There are still early bird deals in the Solace Kickstarter campaign to back the campaign for for $112 to receive a Solace huggable vibroacoustic speaker, a limited edition carry sack, and a one-year subscription to a premium version of the Solace app in March 2023. Keep in mind that there is risk in backing any crowd-funded campaign as many get delayed or never ship at all.
There’s certainly an undeniable appeal of a device that’s good for you that you can hug while it purrs, hums, and vibrates. Many specifics such as battery life, weight, or exact dimensions are missing from the written content for the Solace. However, if the photos in the Kickstarter campaign are representative of the final design, it will be about the size and shape of a loaf of bread.
