POVR: Designing an Immersive Experience for Generating Moments of Self-reflection at Home
Jade Jiang, Naseem Ahmadpour · 2023
Everyday reflection has benefits, however, learning how to reflect every day at home can be difficult. We explore how immersive technologies may be designed to generate meaningful narratives for reflection. We draw inspiration from the Brechtian theatre to embed the ”RIOR” conceptual model (Readiness for reflection, Immersive estrangement, Observation and re-examination, Repatterning of knowledge). We designed POVR, a desktop computer prototype, through a novel participatory process with six participants. POVR enables self-observation and a practice of care through anchoring mundane tasks, and techniques like perspective taking to examine our relationship to spatial and affective decluttering. Testing POVR with fifteen participants highlighted the importance of balancing narrative and ambiguity in meaningful ways for transformative reflective experiences. Findings show that reflection can be feasibly supported in immersive environments through theatre techniques represented in the RIOR model. We discuss lessons learned and provide strategic recommendations for grounding this unique model in future work.