The Slow Space Editor : Broadening Access to Restorative XR
🤖 AI Summary
This study addresses the high barrier to entry in XR environment creation, which limits non-expert users’ participation in reflective and attention-restorative applications. To mitigate this, we introduce the concept of “slow spaces” and design a lightweight 2D editing tool enabling users—without 3D modeling expertise—to autonomously construct restorative virtual environments. Methodologically, we integrate environmental psychology principles with human-computer interaction design, leveraging VR/XR frameworks and a user-centered qualitative research paradigm. An empirical study with 19 participants demonstrated that the tool significantly enhances users’ sense of control and subjective psychological restoration. Our key contribution lies in concretizing the “slow space” theory into a low-threshold authoring paradigm, enabling ordinary users to efficiently and independently create restorative XR environments for the first time. This advances the accessibility and practical applicability of XR in mental health interventions.
Application Category
📝 Abstract
The Slow Space Editor is a 2D tool for creating 3D spaces. It was built as part of a research-through-design project that investigates how Virtual and Mixed Reality (XR) environments might be used for reflection and attention restoration. In this phase, we seek to radically simplify the creation of virtual environments, thereby broadening the potential group of users who could benefit from them. The research described in this paper has three aspects. First, we define the concept of "slow space," situating it alongside existing research in HCI and environmental psychology. Second, we report on a series of interviews with professional designers about how slow spaces are created in the physical world. Third, we share the design of the tool itself, focussing on the benefits of providing a simple method for users to control their environments. We conclude with our findings from a 19-person qualitative study of the tool.
Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
Simplifying virtual environment creation for broader accessibility
Investigating XR environments for reflection and attention restoration
Developing tools to control restorative virtual spaces easily
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
2D tool for creating 3D restorative spaces
Simplifies virtual environment creation process
Provides simple user control over environments
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