Runner's High: Auditory AR for Real-Time Pace Feedback

As a visiting student in the Fluid Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab, I led the design and development of Runner's High, an auditory AR system built for Bose AR headsets and iOS devices. The app uses IMU sensors, GPS, and spatial audio to provide continuous, non-visual feedback about a runner’s pace.

Instead of forcing runners to look at a screen, the system positions music and auditory cues in 3D space. If the runner falls behind or speeds up relative to a goal pace, the perceived location and timing of the sound shift, prompting natural adjustments through proprioception.

Beyond athletic training, the same mechanism can support people with gait difficulties by delivering rhythmic auditory stimulation and spatial cues that encourage stable, consistent walking patterns. This project reinforced my belief that effective feedback systems should be low-friction, multimodal, and embedded in everyday activity.