Immersive Interactive Technologies for Positive Change: A Scoping Review and Design Considerations

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Mindfulness, introspection, and self-reflection enhance health and well-being.
• Modern distractions make these practices difficult to access.
• Technology offers potential solutions by mediating personal experiences and guiding self-understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of immersive interactive technologies for positive change.
• To identify effective design elements and interaction strategies for supporting positive change.
• To explore input/output modalities that elicit positive states.

Main Methods:

• Literature search across ACM Digital Library, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and Design and Applied Arts Index (from Jan 1, 2018).
• Inclusion of 34 relevant English-language articles (published and unpublished).
• Risk of bias assessed using the Downs and Black 26-item QAT scale.

Main Results:

• Analysis identified 38 instances of 33 immersive, interactive experiences promoting positive human functioning.
• Key findings inform a framework for designing future positive interactive technologies.
• Design considerations for eliciting positive states and supporting change were derived.

Conclusions:

• Immersive technologies offer a promising avenue for facilitating self-reflection and well-being.
• A framework and design considerations are proposed for developing effective positive interactive technologies.
• Further research into specific design elements and modalities is needed to optimize user experience and positive outcomes.