Wearable AR for Restorative Breaks: How Interactive Narrative Experiences Support Relaxation for Young Adults

2026-02-18

AI Summary

Following prolonged high-intensity screen-based tasks, young adults often struggle to recover effectively due to passive smartphone use. This work proposes a rest intervention framework tailored for AR smart glasses that uniquely integrates interactive storytelling with wearable augmented reality. By leveraging audio-driven immersive experiences, embedded behavioral nudges, and a “beginning–peak–end” narrative structure, the approach promotes light physical activity under minimal visual load. A controlled study with 16 participants demonstrates that this method significantly enhances rest quality, effectively guiding users toward beneficial movement while preserving immersion—outperforming both passive viewing and non-narrative interventions.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Interaction Techniques and Devices
• Intelligent Robots: Human-Robot Interaction
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Activity and Plan Recognition

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Consent frameworks and practices on the web
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Practical large-scale studies of user experience
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Assisted, interactive, and conversational search

Abstract

Young adults often take breaks from screen-intensive work by consuming digital content on mobile phones, which undermines rest through visual fatigue and inactivity. We introduce a design framework that embeds light break activities into media content on AR smart glasses, balancing engagement and recovery. The framework employs three strategies: (1) seamlessly guiding users by embedding activity cues aligned with media elements; (2) transitioning to audio-centric formats to reduce visual load while sustaining immersion; and (3) structuring sessions with "rise-peak-closure" pacing for smooth transitions. In a within-subjects study (N = 16) comparing passive viewing, reminder-based breaks, and non-narrative activities, InteractiveBreak instantiated from our framework seamlessly guided activities, sustained engagement, and enhanced break quality. These findings demonstrate wearable AR's potential to support restorative relaxation by transforming breaks into engaging and meaningful experiences.

Problem

• restorative breaks
• visual fatigue
• digital content
• young adults
• screen-intensive work

Innovation

• Wearable AR
• Restorative Breaks
• Interactive Narrative
• Audio-Centric Design
• Activity Embedding