Taking a break at work should leave you refreshed—but often it doesn't. MindSpace is a pneumatically controlled haptic device worn on the upper chest that combines two calming sensations: gentle breathing-like movements and deep touch pressure similar to a hug. In a study with 24 participants performing demanding cognitive tasks, those who used MindSpace during their breaks showed significantly faster recovery of focus compared to those who simply rested. The device simulates the comforting sensation of being held while breathing together with someone, activating the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce stress. Participants reported feeling more relaxed and ready to return to work. This research suggests that active haptic interventions during breaks could be more effective than passive rest for restoring cognitive performance.
Masaki Kikuchi, Kaining Chen, Robert Panskus, Dingding Chen, Kazuki Okawa, and Kai Kunze. 2025. MindSpace: Improving Relaxation Break and Performance Using a Device Exerting Tactile Sensation of Life-like Breathing Movement with Squeeze-like Deep Touch Pressure on Users' Upper Chest Area. In Proceedings of Mensch und Computer 2025 (MUC '25). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 255-269. https://doi.org/10.1145/3743049.3743054
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Kai Kunze. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Kai Kunze och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
