Muxiang Chen
A designer who has transitioned from industrial design to user experience design, and enjoys logical thinking and interesting problem-solving approaches.
A designer who has transitioned from industrial design to user experience design, and enjoys logical thinking and interesting problem-solving approaches.
Workplace stress has become a significant issue, adversely affecting employees’ executive functions, including interference control, which is critical for cognitive performance. While traditional methods have been used to alleviate stress, recent research highlights the potential of AR and VR technologies as more effective stress-relief tools. However, there is limited research on how these technologies specifically impact executive functions, such as interference control, especially in workplace settings. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the effects of AR and VR boxing exercises on reducing acute work stress and enhancing cognitive control.
Results
Both AR and VR boxing exercises significantly improved interference control, though effectiveness varied based on emotional stability and the timing of interventions. Both technologies also effectively reduced work-related stress. Therefore, future applications should consider the suitability of each technology for different work environments, user preferences, and cost, while also accounting for employees’ emotional stability.
First, Plan 1 involved using ‘BOXVR’ along with a custom-built AR prototype. However, this was abandoned due to the limitations of AR Foundation in terms of interaction and device compatibility. After comparing the options, I moved to Plan 2, which was closer to AR glasses. In this plan, I used the game ‘Thrill of the Fight’ on a VR headset in both VR mode and mixed mode (similar to AR glasses, allowing visibility of the real environment).
After the prototype is determined, formative testing was conducted to iteratively determine the specific elements and parameters of the experiment based on user feedback.
A counterbalanced within-subject study with two factors was used to control for individual differences in response to different technologies, in order to test stress relief and recovery of interference control abilities.
The final data includes quantitative data on the two factors and qualitative interview data on stress relief effects.
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Muxiang Chen
Major Project
The Effects of AR and VR Boxing on Reducing Acute Work Stress and Enhancing Interference Control Ability: A Within-Subjects Approach
Study Experience
Msc User Experience Design – Loughborough University
Bsc Industry Design – HuaQiao University