Interactive Meditation

Xiangshi Ren, Chaklam Silpasuwanchai, Kavous Salehzadeh Niksirat, Mahmoud Mohamed Hussien Ahmed, Peng Cheng

We are working on how interactivity can help designers to create new apps and devices to promote meditation practices and generally mindfulness in our life.

Keyword

Framework; mindfulness; meditation; interactivity; attention-regulation process; mobile applications; relaxation response; attention restoration theory; Human senses; interactive meditation; relaxation, mindfulness; focus

A Framework for Interactive Mindfulness Meditation Using Attention-Regulation Process

We are often overwhelmed by everyday stressors. Mindfulness meditation can help slow things down and bring one’s attention into the present moment. Given the prevalence of smartphones, mindfulness-based mobile applications (MBMAs) have received much attention. Current MBMAs mainly use the guided meditation method which may not be always effective, e.g., users may not be able to follow the pace of instructions and they need a private environment. This paper presents a framework for interactive MBMAs which allows users to self-regulate their attention according to their abilities and conditions. The framework is described by an Attention-Regulation Process and has two components: (1) Relaxation Response and (2) Attention Restoration Theory. The framework is validated by our experiment. It also informs future development for interactive meditation and has broad implications for designing mindfulness and well-being. Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/gxYgXz4U-HE

Understanding the Role of Human Senses in Interactive Meditation

In our fast-paced society, stress and anxiety have become increasingly common. Meditation for relaxation has received much attention. Meditation apps exploit various senses, e.g., touch, audio and vision, but the relationship between human senses and interactive meditation is not well understood. This paper empirically evaluates the effects of single and combined human senses on interactive meditation. We found that the effectiveness of human senses can be defined by their respective roles in maintaining the balance between relaxation and focus. This work is the first to attempt to understand these relationships. The findings have broad implications for the field of interactive meditation applications. Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/awR6qS5b_TI

Publications:

  1. A Framework for Interactive Mindfulness Meditation Using Attention-Regulation Process [CHI 2017]
  2. Understanding the Role of Human Senses in Interactive Meditation [CHI 2017]
  3. How Audio, Visual, Touch and their Combinations Affect Meditation - Case Study through Smartphone Apps [IDHF 2016]