ZenVR: Design Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Learning System for Meditation
International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems April 29, 2022 R. Feinberg, U. Lakshmi, M. Golino et al.
A two-phase mixed-methods study with 36 participants examined how a virtual reality environment can teach meditation skills to novices. In Phase I, 21 meditation novices, experts, and instructors provided affective and behavioral learner needs, leading to the design of ZenVR, an interactive system delivering an eight-lesson meditation curriculum. In Phase II, a 6-week longitudinal lab-based evaluation with 15 novice learners showed statistically significant improvements in mindfulness and self-reported meditation ability. Insights from a self-managed practice two weeks after the study ended revealed how technology can progressively support meditation skill development without fostering dependence.