Alice Kang starts in her position as a research intern. Alice researches how trust in AI changes based on the way that information is presented.

Arati Mohapatra starts in her position as a research intern. Arati researches how diminished reality can be used to reduce distractions in everyday life.

We are happy to share that we published our latest work on a new tool for Mixed Reality research at the ACM CHI Conference: the Mixed Reality Concerns Questionnaire! The questionnaire evaluates people’s apprehensions and concerns about MR, helping researchers and practitioners assess whether their MR prototypes are raising more worry than utility.

This study investigates the effectiveness of Mixed Reality (MR) warnings for fall hazards, focusing on user perception and the impact of warning size, color, and visual complexity. Using a commercial off-the-shelf MR device, three different warning sizes were displayed in front of a staircase, and data were collected from twelve participants through semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that while larger warnings attracted more attention, they sometimes became distractions instead. Participants preferred conspicuous colors and medium-to-large warnings but noted the need for these elements to blend seamlessly into the real-world environment to avoid cognitive overload. Additionally, participants expressed a desire for MR warnings in more safety-critical environments, such as road traffic scenarios. These results highlight the need for a balanced approach to MR warning design, ensuring they are noticeable without being intrusive to enhance safety in dynamic environments.