Spatial Experience Design of ICU Single Patient Rooms: Enhancing Social Presence through a Digital Medium

Laursen, Camilla Sund Kock

4. term

Experience Design, Master

2026

2026-06-01

67

Background and aim: Single-patient ICU rooms have improved hygiene and privacy but can intensify social isolation for postoperative patients. These patients are often bedridden, medicated, and have a limited field of view, making them vulnerable to loneliness and boredom. Because psychological stress can hinder wound healing, this thesis explores how spatial experience design, using a digital medium, can create a feeling of social presence and reduce isolation. Theoretical framework: The work draws on atmosphere theory, everyday aesthetics, and Jaak Panksepp’s affective neuroscience. Social isolation is understood as activation of the brain’s PANIC system (separation distress). The goal is to dampen PANIC by stimulating the CARE system (care and bonding) and the SEEKING system (curiosity) without triggering the FEAR system (anxiety). Michael Apter’s arousal theory is included to emphasize the need for balanced stimulation over time to avoid boredom. Method: A systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines analyzes quantitative and qualitative studies of digital media interventions in ICU single rooms, including artificial windows and XL projectors (large, wall-filling projections). The analysis focuses on the interplay between the medium’s form (hardware) and content (subject and style), and on the medium’s ability to produce appropriate atmospheric qualities that support patients’ basic psychological needs. Results: Highly dynamic media and large-scale projections often force focused attention. While useful as short-term distraction during procedures, they can drain cognitive resources and cause overstimulation during longer stays. In contrast, an artificial window (e.g., a wall-mounted LED screen) is well suited because it can work as a discreet background via distributed attention (perceived peripherally without demanding active focus). To ease social isolation, content should present a stream of ongoing life: calm scenes from cafés, parks, or libraries that signal natural co-existence and support a basic sense of social presence and CARE activation without requiring interaction. Conclusion and design recommendations: The thesis proposes a four-layer design pyramid that operationalizes the findings: (1) Intended experiential goal: reduce PANIC through social presence and stimulate CARE and SEEKING. (2) Atmospheric qualities: a non-intrusive background that supports distributed attention and provides balanced stimulation. (3) Content qualities: realistic depictions of ongoing social life presented in real time. (4) Physical form: a wall-mounted artificial window with a dimmer and off switch to respect patient autonomy. Digital spatial design should be seen as essential, atmosphere-building infrastructure with the potential to improve well-being and actively support healing for socially isolated postoperative ICU patients. The proposed design should be tested.

Baggrund og formål: Enestuer på intensivafdelinger (ICU) har forbedret hygiejne og privatliv, men kan samtidig forstærke social isolation for postoperative patienter. De er ofte sengeliggende, påvirket af medicin og har et begrænset synsfelt, hvilket øger risikoen for ensomhed og kedsomhed. Da psykologisk stress kan hæmme sårheling, undersøger specialet, hvordan rumligt oplevelsesdesign med et digitalt medie kan skabe en følelse af social tilstedeværelse og dermed afhjælpe isolation. Teoretisk ramme: Specialet bygger på atmosfæreteori, hverdagsæstetik og Jaak Panksepps affektive neurovidenskab. Social isolation forstås som aktivering af hjernens PANIC-system (separationsangst). Målet er at dæmpe PANIC ved at stimulere CARE-systemet (omsorg og samhørighed) og SEEKING-systemet (nysgerrighed) uden at udløse FEAR-systemet (angst). Michael Apters arousal-teori inddrages for at understrege behovet for balanceret stimulation over tid for at undgå kedsomhed. Metode: En systematisk litteraturgennemgang efter PRISMA-retningslinjerne analyserer kvantitative og kvalitative studier af digitale medieinterventioner på ICU-enestuer, herunder kunstige vinduer (artificial windows) og XL-projektorer (store, vægfyldende projektioner). Analysen fokuserer på samspillet mellem mediets form (hardware) og indhold (motiv og stil) og på mediets evne til at skabe hensigtsmæssige atmosfærer, som understøtter patientens grundlæggende psykologiske behov. Resultater: Meget dynamiske medier og store projektorer tvinger ofte beskuerens fokuserede opmærksomhed. Det kan fungere som effektiv kortvarig distraktion under procedurer, men kan dræne kognitive ressourcer og føre til overstimulation under længere indlæggelser. Et kunstigt vindue (fx som en vægmonteret LED-skærm) vurderes derimod som velegnet, fordi det kan fungere som en diskret baggrund via distribueret opmærksomhed (opfattes perifert uden at kræve aktivt fokus). For at lindre social isolation bør indholdet vise en strøm af ongoing life: rolige scener fra caféer, parker eller biblioteker, som signalerer naturlig sameksistens og understøtter en basal følelse af social tilstedeværelse og CARE-aktivering uden at kræve interaktion. Konklusion og designanbefalinger: Specialet munder ud i en firelags designpyramide, der omsætter fundene til praksis: (1) Intenderet oplevelsesmål: dæmpe PANIC via social tilstedeværelse og stimulere CARE og SEEKING. (2) Atmosfæriske kvaliteter: en ikke-påtrængende baggrund, der understøtter distribueret opmærksomhed og giver balanceret stimulation. (3) Indholdskvaliteter: realistiske motiver af igangværende socialt liv præsenteret i realtid. (4) Fysisk form: et vægmonteret kunstigt vindue med dæmperfunktion og sluk-knap for at respektere patientens autonomi. Digitalt rumligt design bør ses som en essentiel, atmosfæreskabende infrastruktur med potentiale til at styrke trivsel og aktivt støtte heling hos socialt isolerede, postoperative intensivpatienter. Designet bør efterfølgende testes.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

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