ABSTRACT

Slow breathing guiding applications increasingly emerge, showing promise for helping knowledge workers to better cope with workaday stress. However, standard breathing guidance is non-interactive, with rigid paces. Despite their effects being proved, they could cause respiratory fatigue, or lack of training motivation, especially for novice users. To explore new design possibilities, we investigate using heart rate variability (HRV) data to mediate breathing guidance, which results in two HRV-enhanced guidance modes: (i) responsive breathing guidance and (ii) adaptive breathing guidance. These guidance modes are implemented on a soft haptic interface named “ViBreathe”. We conducted a user test (N = 24), and a one-week field deployment (N = 4) with knowledge workers, to understand the user experience of our design. The HRV-enhanced modes were generally experienced to reduce tiresome and improve engagement and comfort. And Vibreathe showed great potential for seamlessly weaving slow breathing practice into work routines. We thereby summarize related design insights and opportunities.

摘要

缓慢呼吸引导应用程序越来越多地出现，显示出帮助知识工作者更好地应对工作日压力的希望。然而，标准的呼吸指导是非交互式的，节奏很僵硬。尽管它们的效果已得到证实，但它们可能会导致呼吸疲劳或缺乏训练动力，尤其是对于新手用户。为了探索新的设计可能性，我们研究了使用心率变异性 (HRV) 数据来调节呼吸指导，从而产生两种 HRV 增强的指导模式：(i) 响应式呼吸指导和 (ii) 自适应呼吸指导。这些指导模式在名为“ViBreathe”的软触觉界面上实现。我们与知识工作者进行了用户测试 (N = 24) 和为期一周的现场部署 (N = 4)，以了解我们设计的用户体验。通常体验 HRV 增强模式以减少烦人并提高参与度和舒适度。Vibreathe 显示出将缓慢呼吸练习无缝融入工作程序的巨大潜力。因此，我们总结了相关的设计见解和机会。