The Effects of Speed-Modulated Visual Stimuli Seen through Smart Glasses on Work Efficiency after Viewing

It is known that subjective time and work efficiency are affected by visual stimuli. However, existing studies only consider the effects of visual information on the user during viewing and ignore the after effects. Using smart glasses lets users see visual information while moving until just before arriving at the office or school. We hypothesize that the user’s effects from the visual information they were looking at just before working or studying affects the subsequent work. Through two user studies, we investigated whether information presented on smart glasses affected subsequent work efficiency. In the first experiment, participants were presented with avatars running at two levels of speed, or no avatars, through simulated smart glasses in a virtual environment. They then solved a dot-clicking task on a desktop monitor. In the second experiment, we investigated whether the same effect could be shown while walking in the real environment, with a running and a fast-walking avatar both at the same speed in order to see the difference in the effects of the different movements. In the first experiment, we confirmed that the speed of later work tended to improve when presenting the running human-shaped avatar. From the results of the second experiment, which was conducted in the real environment, we did not confirm that the subsequent work speed varied depending on the type of avatar being displayed. As a reason for the trend of improvement in the task efficiency in the first experiment, observation of fast human motion may have unconsciously accelerated the observers’ body movement speed due to the mirror neuron mechanism. As a reason for why the work speed did not improve in the second experiment, the participants may be affected by other pedestrians and running cars. Additionally, it was difficult to see the images on the smart glasses while walking in the real environment

"Enriching 360-degree technologies through human-computer interaction: psychometric validation of two memory tasks"

This doctoral dissertation explores the domain of neuropsychological assessment, with the objective of gaining a comprehensive understanding of an individual's cognitive functioning and detecting possible impairments. Traditional assessment tools, while possessing inherent value, frequently exhibit a deficiency in ecological validity when evaluating memory, as they predominantly concentrate on short-term, regulated tasks. To overcome this constraint, immersive technologies, specifically virtual reality and 360° videos, have surfaced as promising instruments for augmenting the ecological validity of cognitive assessments. This work examines the potential advantages of immersive technologies, particularly 360° videos, in enhancing memory evaluation. First, a comprehensive overview of contemporary virtual reality tools employed in the assessment of memory, as well as their convergence with conventional assessment measures has been provided. Then, the present study utilizes cluster and network analysis techniques to categorize 360° videos according to their content and applications, thereby offering significant insights into the potential of this nascent medium. The study introduces then a novel platform, Mindscape, that aims to address the existing technological disparity, thereby enhancing the accessibility of clinicians and researchers in developing cognitive tasks within immersive environments. The conclusion of the thesis encompasses the psychometric validation of two memory tasks, which have been specifically developed with Mindscape to assess episodic and spatial memory. The findings demonstrate disparities in cognitive performance between individuals diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment and those without cognitive impairments, underscoring the interrelated nature of cognitive processes and the promising prospects of virtual reality technology in improving the authenticity of real-world experiences. Overall, this dissertation aims to respond to the demand for practical and ecologically valid neuropsychological assessments within the dynamic field of neuropsychology. It achieves this by integrating user-friendly platforms and immersive cognitive tasks into its methodology. By highlighting a shift in the field of neuropsychology towards prioritizing functional and practical assessments over theoretical frameworks, this work indicates a changing perspective within the discipline. This study highlights the potential of comprehensive and purpose-oriented assessment methods in cognitive evaluations, emphasizing the ongoing significance of research in fully comprehending the capabilities of immersive technologies