Formula-S: Situated Visualization for Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Learning
Zhi-Yue Wu, Suyuan Peng, Yan Zhu, Liang Zhou · 中国医学科学杂志：英文版 · 2025
OBJECTIVES: The study of medicine formulas is a core component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), yet traditional learning methods often lack interactivity and contextual understanding, making it challenging for beginners to grasp the intricate composition rules of formulas. To address this gap, we introduce Formula-S, a situated visualization method for TCM formula learning in augmented reality (AR) and evaluate its performance. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Formula-S in enhancing TCM formula learning for beginners by comparing it with traditional text-based formula learning and web-based visualization. METHODS: The situated visualization method of Formula-S had comparable accuracy to other methods but shorter response time for herbal formula learning tasks. Regarding user experience, our new approach demonstrated the highest system usability and lowest task load, effectively reducing cognitive load and allowing users to complete tasks with greater ease and efficiency. Participants reported that Formula-S enhanced their learning experience through its intuitive interface and immersive AR environment, suggesting this approach offers usability advantages for TCM education. CONCLUSIONS: The situated visualization method in Formula-S offers more efficient and accurate searching capabilities compared to traditional and web-based methods. Additionally, it provides superior contextual understanding of TCM formulas, making it a promising new solution for TCM learning.