Posted on

A Review of CBT-i Apps

A Review of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I Apps): Are They Designed for Engagement?

There are different ways to deliver Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), of which in-person (face to face) is the traditional delivery method. However, the scalability of in-person therapy is low. Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (dCBT-I) is an alternative and there are tools on the market that are validated in clinical studies. In this paper, we provide a review of the existing evidence-based CBT-I apps and a summary of the published usability-oriented studies of these apps. The goal is to explore the range of interaction methods commonly applied in dCBT-I platforms, the potential impact for the users, and the design elements applied to achieve engagement. Six commercially available CBT-I apps tested by scientifically valid methods were accessed and reviewed. Commonalities were identified and categorized into interactive elements, CBT-I-related components, managerial features, and supportive motivational features. The dCBT-I apps were effectively assisting the users, and the type of interactions promoted engagement. The apps’ features were based on design principles from interactive product design, experience design, online social media, and serious gaming. This study contributes to the field by providing a critical summary of the existing dCBT-I apps that could guide future developers in the field to achieve a high engagement.

B. Erten Uyumaz, L. Feijs, and J. Hu, “A Review of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I Apps): Are They Designed for Engagement?,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 2929, 2021. FULLTEXT: PDF REFERENCE: BibTeX EndNote DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062929
Posted on

ViBreathe

ViBreathe: Heart Rate Variability Enhanced Respiration Training for Workaday Stress
Management via an Eyes-free Tangible Interface

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.

B. Yu, P. An, S. Hendriks, N. Zhang, L. Feijs, M. Li, and J. Hu, “ViBreathe: Heart Rate Variability Enhanced Respiration Training for Workaday Stress Management via an Eyes-free Tangible Interface,” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, pp. 1-20, 2021.
FULLTEXT: PDF REFERENCE: BibTeX EndNote
DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2021.1898827
Posted on

Less Collective Stress, Better Workspace

B2 project by Joost Buining and Yinying Miao

Work-related stress may result in under-performance and absenteeism of office workers. Employees often struggle to pause their work and reflect on their own stress level, resulting in a gap between one’s perceived and one’s actual level of stress. Therefore, there is a need to raise the awareness of office workers about their own stress levels.

To reach this goal, Stressvas is introduced. It is an office interactive installation using motors and projections to represent heart rate variability data, collected by sensors embedded in office chairs. It aims to stimulate a healthier working attitude through a collective visualization of employees’ stress levels. The approaches used are data-enabled design as well as the personal informatics model. By anonymously displaying the differences among colleagues in a team, employees can reflect on their own mental health from a more objective perspective. Therefore, triggering behavior change for a healthier and better workspace.

J. Buining, and Y. Miao, Less Collective Stress, Better Workspace, B2 Project Report, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 2021. FULLTEXT: PDF

Posted on

Exploring Fantasy Play in MathMythos AR

Fostering fantasy play for young children through augmented reality has the potential to support 21st century learning activities by stimulating creativity, communication, and flexibility. We present a design exploration of MathMythos AR, an augmented reality card-based math addition game that enables children to engage in basic math tasks embedded in fantastical narratives. We provide insights into our design process, the effects of fantasy and everyday narratives, and discuss implications for AR card games that show potential to foster motivation for learning math. The presented insights are the foundation for the the next iteration of MathMythos AR, where we aim to create compelling and immersive AR narratives for learning.

T. Zuo, M. V. Birk, E. D. v. d. Spek, and J. Hu, “Exploring Fantasy Play in MathMythos AR,” in Extended Abstracts of the 2020 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play, Virtual Event, Canada, 2020, pp. 413–417. FULLTEXT: PDF REFERENCE: BibTeX EndNote DOI: 10.1145/3383668.3419882
Posted on

Effects of the Level of Interactivity of a Social Robot and the Response of the Augmented Reality Display in Contextual Interactions of People with Dementia

The well-being of people with dementia (PWD) living in long-term care facilities is hindered due to disengagement and social isolation. Animal-like social robots are increasingly used in dementia care as they can provide companionship and engage PWD in meaningful activities. While most previous human–robot interaction (HRI) research studied engagement independent from the context, recent findings indicate that the context of HRI sessions has an impact on user engagement. This study aims to explore the effects of contextual interactions between PWD and a social robot embedded in the augmented responsive environment. Three experimental conditions were compared: reactive context-enhanced robot interaction; dynamic context-enhanced interaction with a static robot; a control condition with only the dynamic context presented. Effectiveness evaluations were performed with 16 participants using four observational rating scales on observed engagement, affective states, and apathy related behaviors. Findings suggested that the higher level of interactivity of a social robot and the interactive contextualized feedback helped capture and maintain users’ attention during engagement; however, it did not significantly improve their positive affective states. Additionally, the presence of either a static or a proactive robot reduced apathy-related behaviors by facilitating purposeful activities, thus, motivating behavioral engagement.

Y. Feng, E. I. Barakova, S. Yu, J. Hu, and G. Rauterberg, “Effects of the Level of Interactivity of a Social Robot and the Response of the Augmented Reality Display in Contextual Interactions of People with Dementia,” Sensors, vol. 20, no. 13, pp. 3771, 2020. FULLTEXT: PDF REFERENCE: BibTeX EndNote DOI: 10.3390/s20133771

Posted on

Social Glasses: Simulating Interactive Gaze for Visually Impaired People in Face-to-Face Communication

Eye contact is crucial in social interactions, linking with sincerity and friendliness. However, blind people cannot see and make eye contact when they communicate with sighted people. It influences the involvement of blind people in blind-sighted conversations. Based on this context, we implemented Social glasses with an eye-tracking system, aiming to improve the communication quality between blind and sighted people in face-to-face conversations. Social glasses attempts to simulate the appropriate gaze for blind people, especially establishing the “eye contact” in blind-sighted conversations. To evaluate the impact of the interactive gaze displayed on the Social glasses, we performed dyadic conversation tests under four experimental conditions (No Gaze, Constant Gaze, Random Gaze, and Interactive Gaze) for 40 participants. Quantitative results showed that the Interactive gaze has a positive impact on improving the communication quality between blind and sighted people, which were consistent with a qualitative analysis of the participants’ comments.

S. Qiu, J. Hu, T. Han, H. Osawa, and M. Rauterberg, “Social Glasses: Simulating Interactive Gaze for Visually Impaired People in Face-to-Face Communication,” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, vol. 36, no. 9, pp. 839-855, 2020/05/27, 2020. FULLTEXT: PDF REFERENCE: BibTeX EndNote DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2019.1696513
Posted on

Supporting intergenerational memento storytelling for older adults through a tangible display: a case study

Mementoes act as emotional companions that anchor stories. Older adults typically have a rich knowledge of family mementoes. However, storytelling and preservation of mementoes are still problematic for them: their mementoes are still mostly in physical format, which is difficult to share and preserve. Additionally, digital applications and websites for sharing mementoes usually are inaccessible for them. As a result, they spend much time collecting mementoes, but spend less time on telling and recording the related stories. In response to this, we report our study driven by the research questions: Rq1: What are the characteristics of older adults’ intergenerational memento storytelling? And Rq2: In which ways could a tangible display facilitate intergenerational memento storytelling for older adults? We designed a tangible device named Slots-Memento. We first conducted a preliminary evaluation to refine the prototype. In the field study, eight pairs of participants (each pair consisting of an older adult and his/her child) were recruited to use the prototype for around 1 week. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted both with the older adults and their children. Subsequently, mementoes collected were categorized and analyzed. Stories collected were firstly transcribed, then were conducted with structural and interactional analysis. In the concluding discussion, we present abstract implications for the research questions: two tables summarizing characteristics of their intergenerational memento storytelling, and related strategies of designing a tangible display individually.

C. Li, J. Hu, B. Hengeveld, and C. Hummels, “Supporting intergenerational memento storytelling for older adults through a tangible display: a case study,” Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, pp. 1-25, 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s00779-020-01364-9
Posted on

Enhancing Social Closeness between Drivers by Digital Augmentation

Chao Wang, Jacques Terken, Jun Hu, and Matthias Rauterberg

Driving is a social activity: Drivers need to coordinate and cooperate with each other to share the infrastructure. The relationship between drivers influences their driving behavior and experience. Lights, horn and speed are the most frequently used means to exchange information, limiting both the range and the bandwidth of the connectivity and leading to isolation, loneliness, and competition. We present “iSticker” and “MusicHound”, two concepts that aim to establish a connection by presenting similarity information between drivers. The two concepts were prototyped and evaluated with users in a driving simulator. The results showed that iSticker and MusicHound enhance drivers’ social closeness with each other and belongingness during the journey.

C. Wang, J. Terken, J. Hu, and M. Rauterberg, “Enhancing social closeness between drivers by digital augmentation,” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 477-494, 2020. FULLTEXT: PDF REFERENCE: BibTeX EndNote
Posted on

Explortists

FBP by Tess Ernest

The goal of this project is to create a service for artists that helps to enlarge their audience. This will be done by making it easy to explore new artists by using Explortists. Explortists are cards linked to an Augmented Reality application. The cards should make listeners more aware of the artist and stimulate sharing music. Outcomes of user-tests confirmed the willingness to explore via the cards. It also shows that using newer technology for the applications, makes the features clear, fun and valuable. Stakeholders such as artists, record labels and venue get profit out of the concept. They can implement personal branding and make a revenue out of using the cards.

To read more:

T. Ernest, 2019-TessErnest-Explortists, FBP Report, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 2019. FULLTEXT: PDF
Posted on

See Me Roar: an AR Game

See Me Roar: an AR Game to Improve Children’s
Perception of Relatedness and Learning Motivation in Elementary Math Education

M12 project by Xiaoyu Yu

Today’s primary school teachers may find it hard to motivate their students into traditional learning activities, especially with subjects which students may find difficult and are subsequently not willing to spend much time on, such as mathematics. Educational games with Augmented Reality (AR) technology could provide a great potential for learning and are increasingly available among primary school students. However, there is a lack of understanding on how to improve student’s learning motivation through the AR educational games. In the present study, the researcher first used the method of co-design with children to shape and develop the concept of an AR game for children to practice their math skills in the social learning environment. Then, the researcher conducted a user test with four 8-12-year-old students to explore which game elements (collaboration vs. competition) in the AR game could improve their perception of relatedness and motivation based on Self-determination Theory. The results show that the collaboration version could lead to a higher perception of relatedness and more learning motivation.

X. Yu, See Me Roar: an AR Game to Improve Children’s Perception of Relatedness and Learning Motivation in Elementary Math Education, M12 Report, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 2019. FULLTEXT: PDF