Measuring physical demand in Augmented Reality learning environments

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Augmented Reality (AR) offers immersive educational experiences.
• The physical demands of prolonged AR use in learning environments are not well understood.
• Investigating AR's impact on user physical well-being is crucial for sustainable adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between AR engagement and physical demand in educational settings.
• To quantify changes in user posture and perceived workload during extended AR use.
• To establish a foundation for developing predictive models for physical demand in AR.

Main Methods:

• Utilized motion capture technology to track user posture.
• Employed the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) to assess perceived workload.
• Integrated HoloLens eye-tracking to monitor user engagement and interaction.
• Quantified slouching scores as an indicator of physical fatigue.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was found between slouching scores and the physical demand component of the NASA-TLX.
• Prolonged AR interaction was associated with increased slouching, indicating heightened physical fatigue.
• Objective and subjective measures consistently indicated physical strain during AR use.

Conclusions:

• Extended AR use in education leads to measurable physical fatigue.
• Posture changes, specifically increased slouching, are reliable indicators of AR-induced physical demand.
• Findings support the development of ergonomic guidelines and predictive tools for AR educational applications.