Opera has launched a new web browser geared towards mindfulness to help users “feel and function better.”
Opera Air employs a minimalist design and mindfulness features to help its users relax, concentrate better, and rest while using the browser. It mirrors a lot of the same features you might find in a mindfulness app but now alongside your everyday browser.
Some of the features included in the various break modes are breathing and neck exercises, meditation tips, and a “full body scan.” The exercises and meditation sessions are designed to lower stress muscles and help loosen your muscles, which can be made tense by sitting at a desk for too long.
The full body scan is a different type of meditation that involves encouraging you to focus your attention on different parts of the body and the sensations that involve them. You can specify how long the breaks are, ranging from three minutes to 15, as well as whether you want to take them yourself or set automatic timers.
“The web is beautiful but it can be chaotic and overwhelming,” said Mohamed Salah, Senior Director of Product at Opera. “We decided to look at science-backed ways to help our users navigate it in a way that makes them feel and function better.”
More features from Opera Air
Another feature is ‘Boosts,’ where Opera Air uses binaural beats to help induce a relaxed and meditative state. This auditory technique plays two different frequencies, one for each ear, and creates the perception of a third frequency.
This in turn influences brainwave activity and, in Opera Air, you can choose a ‘Boosts’ program for different moods, including Creativity Boost, Energized Focus, Deep Relaxation and more. Each one uses different sounds, including nature noises and relaxing background music. You can also choose your own favorite songs to provide backing tracks for Boosts, which last anywhere upwards of 15 minutes.
Opera Air is available to download now.
Featured image: Opera