ZenVR: A biofeedback virtual reality experience for assisting meditation
Author
Hølledig, Malte Lindholm
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-05-31
Pages
103
Abstract
Denne afhandling præsenterer en virtual reality (VR) meditationsapp til begyndere, der bruger biofeedback til at gøre brugerens mentale tilstand mere synlig. Med et VR-headset træder brugeren ind i en rolig, virtuel skov med beroligende musik og guidede instruktioner. Et brain-computer interface (BCI) måler hjerneaktivitet via elektroencefalografi (EEG), og disse signaler styrer mængden af tåge i skoven, så brugeren får et umiddelbart, visuelt feedback på sin sindstilstand. Systemet blev afprøvet med 21 deltagere fordelt på tre forskellige betingelser. Hver person mediterede i fem minutter, mens puls og hjerneaktivitet blev målt, og vurderede bagefter deres meditationsdybde i et spørgeskema. Testen viste ingen signifikante forskelle mellem de tre betingelser, men indikerede, at deltagerne opnåede afslapning. Samlet set hjalp systemet ikke brugerne med at nå en dyb meditationstilstand i dette studie, men VR med biofeedback fremstår som en underholdende, engagerende og ny tilgang til meditation.
This thesis presents a virtual reality (VR) meditation app for beginners that uses biofeedback to make a user’s mental state more visible. Wearing a VR headset, users enter a calm virtual forest with soothing music and guided instructions. A brain–computer interface (BCI) measures brain activity via electroencephalography (EEG), and these signals control the density of fog in the forest, providing immediate visual feedback about the user’s state of mind. The system was evaluated with 21 participants split into three different conditions. Each person meditated for five minutes while heart rate and brain activity were monitored, and then reported their perceived depth of meditation in a questionnaire. The test showed no significant differences between the three conditions, but indicated that participants reached a relaxed state. Overall, the system did not help users achieve a deep meditative state in this study, but VR with biofeedback appears to be an entertaining, engaging, and novel approach to meditation.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Keywords
Documents