Designing a Smartphone-Based Virtual Reality App for Relaxation: Qualitative Crossover Study

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Therapeutics

Background:

• Virtual Reality (VR) shows promise for mental health, particularly in relaxation exercises.
• Implementation of VR for relaxation is hindered by operational knowledge gaps, app availability, and cost.
• Current VR relaxation apps often require standalone headsets, limiting accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design an accessible, smartphone-based VR relaxation app informed by user preferences.
• To assess two existing standalone VR relaxation applications to inform the design process.

Main Methods:

• 30 participants evaluated two VR relaxation apps (Flowborne, Calm Place) in separate sessions.
• Post-session surveys gathered qualitative feedback on app features, usability, and suggestions for improvement.
• Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze participant responses.

Main Results:

• Five recurring themes (audio, visuals, features, implementation, experience) and 13 subthemes were identified.
• User feedback informed the development of a Dutch-language, smartphone-based VR app with customizable exercises, voices, and environments.
• The app incorporates calming audio and dynamic visuals; efficacy was not assessed.

Conclusions:

• Insights from user feedback are crucial for developing effective VR relaxation applications.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and user experience of smartphone-based VR relaxation apps.
• Investigating interactivity, biofeedback, and environmental factors in VR relaxation is essential.