Jul 1, 2021
Work-in-progress Paper
Research on how websites and VR can better support students with anxiety through accessible, engaging digital design.
Mhanaj Hossain
Researcher
This published research investigates how digital systems can better support university students experiencing anxiety, particularly during times of isolation. I led the design and evaluation of three distinct prototypes: a traditional website, a VR environment with a single advisor, and an immersive VR setting with multiple virtual characters. Through qualitative research and user testing, the study explored emotional engagement and accessibility, demonstrating how thoughtfully designed digital spaces can provide meaningful, personalized mental health support.
Key Features
Prototype Success:The WebXR One Virtual Human prototype demonstrated significant effectiveness in improving student engagement and comfort with mental health resources compared to other prototypes.
Virtual Interaction Benefits: Students found the virtual character interaction reassuring and effective, especially at a time when physical access to mental health services was limited due to the pandemic.
Skill Enhancement: The project journey significantly boosted the researcher's skills, particularly in programming languages such as JavaScript and C#.
Challenges Faced: Issues with text-to-speech translations, animation limitations due to lockdown restrictions, and other technical challenges were encountered during the project.
Future Development: Plans for future development involve enhancing translation features, incorporating video elements, refining animations, and adding warning signals for critical self-assessments across all prototypes to improve user experience
Goals
To enhance university mental health services by creating a more effective and accessible bridge between students and these resources.
Aim
To create a user-friendly, interactive platform that caters to students' mental health and well-being needs.
Outcomes
The working progress paper was accepted by the 7th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN 2021).
Due to COVID reasoning, the conference was conducted online in a virtual interactive space.
I had the opportunity to present the research paper and start the conversation about potential therapy via WebXR.
Continue
Following the publication of my working progress paper,
I completed my dissertation titled "WebXR to Support Student Wellbeing and Anxiety."
I wrote my Master's dissertation for my degree in Human-Computer Interaction and Design (HCID), titled "Exploring the Perspectives of Mental Health Professionals on Virtual Reality Therapy vs. In-Person Therapy: A Comparative Study."
My research in mental health and VR/WebXR is ongoing, as it remains one of my primary goals to contribute to advancements in this field
