research-article

SuperBreak: using interactivity to enhance ergonomic typing breaks

Authors:

A.J. Bernheim Brush,

Brian R. MeyersAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '08: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Pages 1817 - 1826

https://doi.org/10.1145/1357054.1357337

Published: 06 April 2008 Publication History

Abstract

Repetitive strain injuries and ergonomics concerns have become increasingly significant health issues as a growing number of individuals frequently use computers for long periods of time. Currently, limited software mechanisms exist for managing ergonomics; the most well-known are "break-reminder" packages that schedule and recommend typing breaks. Yet despite the proven benefits of taking breaks, such packages are rarely adopted due to the over-head of introducing periodic interruptions into a user's workflow. In this paper, we describe SuperBreak, a break-reminder package that provides hands-free interactions during breaks, with the goal of encouraging users to take more breaks and enhancing the benefits of those breaks. In a field study of 26 knowledge workers, 85% preferred SuperBreak over a traditional break-reminder system, and on average participants took a higher percentage of the interactive breaks suggested to them. Our results highlight the value of interactivity for improving the adoption and retention of ergonomic break practices.

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Cited By

Jiang JLi SLi XXu YZhao JAn P(2024)BIG-AOME: Designing Bodily Interaction Gamification towards Anti-sedentary Online Meeting Environments (Preprint)JMIR Serious Games10.2196/62778Online publication date: 31-May-2024
https://doi.org/10.2196/62778
Maleck MGross T(2024)CoLoTiMa: A Cognitive-Load Based Time Management ToolProceedings of Mensch und Computer 202410.1145/3670653.3677485(690-694)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3670653.3677485
Aggarwal DKhot RYi JCiolfi LHogan TDöring TJenkins Tvan Dijk JHuron SLi ZCoyle DSigner B(2024)Zenscape: Encouraging Microbreaks from Screen-based Work through a Tangible SystemProceedings of the Eighteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction10.1145/3623509.3633368(1-17)Online publication date: 11-Feb-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3623509.3633368
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

SuperBreak: using interactivity to enhance ergonomic typing breaks
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Accessibility
  2. Human computer interaction (HCI)
    1. Empirical studies in HCI
    2. Interaction devices
      1. Touch screens

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Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

CHI '08: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 2008

1870 pages

ISBN:9781605580111

DOI:10.1145/1357054

General Chairs:
Mary Czerwinski
Microsoft Research, USA
,
Arnie Lund
Microsoft, USA
,
Program Chair:
Desney Tan
Microsoft Research, USA

Copyright © 2008 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 06 April 2008

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CHI '08

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CHI '08: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 5 - 10, 2008

Florence, Italy

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CHI '08 Paper Acceptance Rate 157 of 714 submissions, 22%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 6,199 of 26,314 submissions, 24%

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Cited By

Jiang JLi SLi XXu YZhao JAn P(2024)BIG-AOME: Designing Bodily Interaction Gamification towards Anti-sedentary Online Meeting Environments (Preprint)JMIR Serious Games10.2196/62778Online publication date: 31-May-2024
https://doi.org/10.2196/62778
Maleck MGross T(2024)CoLoTiMa: A Cognitive-Load Based Time Management ToolProceedings of Mensch und Computer 202410.1145/3670653.3677485(690-694)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3670653.3677485
Aggarwal DKhot RYi JCiolfi LHogan TDöring TJenkins Tvan Dijk JHuron SLi ZCoyle DSigner B(2024)Zenscape: Encouraging Microbreaks from Screen-based Work through a Tangible SystemProceedings of the Eighteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction10.1145/3623509.3633368(1-17)Online publication date: 11-Feb-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3623509.3633368
Sun XWang JZhou YWang SLi YRen X(2024)CO-Coffee: A Technology Probe Study to Facilitate Coffee Breaks in Open OfficesExtended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613905.3651030(1-7)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613905.3651030
Lu YWang XXiong RCui XGuo YMi HGrollman DBroadbent EJu WSoh HWilliams T(2024)Exploring Foot-Interactive Robotics: A Study on Gobot's Role in Enhancing Daily Walking Experience through Emotion-Infused DesignCompanion of the 2024 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction10.1145/3610978.3640624(707-711)Online publication date: 11-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3610978.3640624
Emmanuel USalome MLyu HHassan AHashem AMutahar AAbdullahi A(2024)Ergo Align Cushion: A Haptic-Visual Feedback System to Promote Dynamic Sitting in Office Settings2024 IEEE International Conference on Cybernetics and Intelligent Systems (CIS) and IEEE International Conference on Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics (RAM)10.1109/CIS-RAM61939.2024.10672805(227-231)Online publication date: 8-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1109/CIS-RAM61939.2024.10672805
Bao YXue MGohumpu JCao YHu J(2023)PopStress: designing organizational stress intervention for office workersFrontiers in Computer Science10.3389/fcomp.2023.12653995Online publication date: 5-Dec-2023
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomp.2023.1265399
Rudnicka ACook DCecchinato MGould SNewbold JCox A(2022)The end of the active work break? Remote work, sedentariness and the role of technology in creating active break-taking normsProceedings of the 1st Annual Meeting of the Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction for Work10.1145/3533406.3533409(1-13)Online publication date: 8-Jun-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3533406.3533409
Khot RYi JAggarwal D(2022)Designing for Microbreaks: Unpacking the Design Journey of ZenscapeProceedings of the Sixteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction10.1145/3490149.3502256(1-16)Online publication date: 13-Feb-2022
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Damen Ivan den Heuvel RBrankaert RVos S(2021)Advancing Digital Behavior Change Interventions by Exploring a Calendar-Based Suggestion SystemProceedings of the 32nd European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics10.1145/3452853.3452866(1-7)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2021
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