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This study examines the ergonomic impact of augmented reality (AR) technologies in educational contexts, with a focus on understanding how prolonged AR engagement affects postural dynamics and physical demands on users. By analyzing slouching scores alongside NASA Task Load Index (TLX) Physical Demand (PD) values, we assess the physical strain experienced by participants during the initial modules of an AR-based lecture series. Our findings demonstrate a notable decline in slouching scores as participants progress through the lecture modules, indicating increased postural deviations. To quantify these effects, we developed a regression model that effectively predicts the physical demands imposed by various AR modules, based on the observed slouching scores.
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This content will become publicly available on January 1, 2026
Exploring Physical Demand Metric: Slouching Score in Augmented Reality-Based Biomechanics Education
There is an increasing demand for developing new metrics that can effectively measure the physical demand experienced by users in augmented reality (AR) environments. In this study, we evaluated one of the recent metrics, called “slouching score,” in an AR-based biomechanics lecture. This study aims to uncover the correlation between the AR interaction and the physical demand of users in a different setup compared to the earlier study. The slouching score, which evaluates posture changes that may indicate fatigue during AR interactions, is measured using Xsens motion capture equipment. These calculated scores are compared with responses to physical demand assessments surveyed using NASA-TLX questionnaires. One of the key differences between the current study and earlier ones is that participants had to physically move to access the next AR module in earlier studies. In contrast, this time, participants simply needed to click a virtual arrow button to view the next AR modules, eliminating the need for physical movement. Our preliminary findings show correlations between the slouching score from some modules and the NASA-TLX physical demand ratings.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2202108
- PAR ID:
- 10643771
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer Nature Switzerland
- Date Published:
- ISBN:
- 978-3-031-93502-2
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 301 to 311
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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