Human factors evaluation of an ambient display for real-time posture feedback to sedentary workers

While multiple previous studies have proposed utilizing an ambient display for providing real-time posture feedback to seated computer workers, it is not well understood how effective ambient feedback is in supporting the users’ dual task of computer work and posture monitoring/rectification. The objective of the current study was to evaluate an ambient display for real-time posture feedback in comparison with typical conditions, an on-screen display and no display condition, in terms of the dual task performance. The ambient and the on-screen display were also compared in terms of perceived detection efficiency and user acceptance measures. A total of 24 participants performed the dual task in each of the three display conditions (the ambient, on-screen and no display conditions). The dependent measures for the dual task performance were the number of typed answers and the occurrence rate of high-risk postures; and, for the subjective evaluation, two detection efficiency measures (visibility and understandability) and four user acceptance measures (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, attitude toward using technology and social influence) were employed. The study demonstrated that both the ambient and the on-screen displays enhanced the dual task performance with respect to the no-display condition and the ambient display was superior to the on-screen display in the subjective experience measures.