Muse

InteraXon, the company behind Muse, was established in Toronto, Canada, in 2007 by founders Ariel Garten, Trevor Coleman, Chris Aimone, and Steve Mann. The team, comprising neuroscientists, engineers, and designers, aimed to translate complex brain-sensing technology into accessible consumer products. Garten's background combines art, science, and business, with experience in research labs focusing on neuroscience. Aimone, the CTO, holds an MSc in electrical engineering and was supervised by Steve Mann, who is widely regarded as 'The Father of Wearable Computing'. The development of their flagship product began as early as 2003, with early prototypes including a levitating chair that would rise as the user entered a state of relaxation. After a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in 2012, the first Muse headband was released to the public in May 2014.

The company operates in the health and wellness technology market, focusing on mental fitness and cognitive enhancement. Its business model revolves around the direct-to-consumer sale of its hardware products, supplemented by a recurring revenue stream from a premium subscription to the companion Muse app. This subscription unlocks a library of over 500 guided meditations and advanced tracking features. Beyond individual consumers, Muse also targets researchers, healthcare providers, and developers, offering its technology for clinical studies, patient care, and third-party application integration.

Muse is a brain-sensing headband that provides real-time neurofeedback to help users improve their meditation practice, focus, and sleep. The device utilizes electroencephalography (EEG) sensors to measure brain activity. This data is sent via Bluetooth to a mobile app, which translates the brainwaves into audio feedback. For instance, during a meditation session, a calm and focused mind is represented by peaceful weather sounds, while a wandering or active mind triggers sounds of a storm. This immediate feedback loop helps users recognize when they are distracted and guides them back to a state of calm. In addition to EEG, newer models like the Muse 2 and Muse S incorporate sensors to track heart rate (PPG), breathing (accelerometer), and body movement (gyroscope). The high-end Muse S Athena model also includes functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure blood oxygenation and flow in the brain, providing deeper insights into cognitive effort. The app tracks progress over time, awarding points and milestones to encourage consistent practice.

Keywords: neurotechnology, EEG headband, biofeedback, meditation aid, mental fitness, brain-sensing, neurofeedback, wellness technology, sleep tracking, cognitive enhancement, Ariel Garten, Steve Mann, InteraXon, brain-computer interface, mental well-being, stress reduction, focus improvement, guided meditation, fNIRS, wearable technology, digital health