Audio Augmentation of Manual Interactions to Support Mindfulness
Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive Mobile Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies December 2, 2025 Yujie Tao, Jingjin Li, Lijuan Ye et al.
A wearable device that amplifies sounds of hand interactions in real time was tested in a preregistered in-lab study with 60 participants performing an object exploration task. Audio augmentation increased self-reported state mindfulness, directing attention to auditory properties of objects that are typically overlooked. Behaviorally, participants with audio augmentation interacted with objects longer and showed more trial-and-error exploratory patterns, suggesting increased curiosity. The device offers a sensory-driven approach to support everyday mindfulness, which is often under-supported by existing technologies that focus on formal meditation practices.