Introduction to Virtual Stress Relief
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University are working on a brand new project that uses virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) to assist people practice stress-relief strategies in simulated stressful situations. This progressive approach is a contemporary spin on exposure therapy, allowing users to wear VR/AR glasses and practice what they wish to say in front of a digital audience.
The Research Behind the Project
The research team, led by Anna Fang, a graduate student within the School of Computer Science’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, will present their work on the upcoming Association for Computing Machinery Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025). The team tested their stress simulation technology on a bunch of 19 participants, with overwhelmingly positive results.
The Need for Realistic Simulations
Fang noticed that existing meditation apps often place users in a sanitized, isolated environment, making it difficult to transfer stress-relief skills to real-life situations. "The project comes from me wanting a practical way for people to learn these skills and apply them to their real lives," Fang said. The goal is to create simulations that mimic real-life scenarios, equivalent to office environments or conflicts with others, to assist users practice self-care skills in a simpler way.
Simulating Stressful Scenarios
The team focused on three scenarios that commonly cause stress and anxiety: public speaking, crowded social events, and interpersonal conflict. They built 24 prototypes with different design elements for every scenario, including virtual reality, mixed or augmented reality, and text-based environments. The prototypes offered various degrees of interaction, with some featuring responsive avatars that might engage in conversation or ask questions.
User Feedback and Preferences
Participants generally found the simulations to be realistic and helpful in increasing their self-awareness. They preferred having the ability to come to a decision when to receive guidance from the massive language model, fairly than receiving it robotically. Users also desired to take the headsets to different locations to turn into more comfortable with the stressful setting. For example, a participant might wish to practice public speaking in a classroom or discuss a problem with a partner at home using the augmented headset.
Future Developments
The team is currently developing a full-fidelity deployable model that may be released on the App Store. The next version will feature more realistic avatars with text-to-speech capabilities, allowing for more natural conversations. The avatars can even have more realistic facial expressions and movements, making the simulations much more immersive. Additionally, the upcoming version will offer an expanded menu of self-care strategies, including leisure techniques, body-scanning exercises, and grounding practices.
Conclusion
The use of VR/AR technology to simulate stressful situations and practice stress-relief strategies has shown promising results. By providing a secure and realistic environment for users to practice self-care skills, this progressive approach has the potential to assist people manage anxiety and stress more effectively. As the project continues to develop, it might turn into a beneficial tool for people trying to improve their mental well-being and construct confidence within the face of difficult situations.
