Zhang, Ju ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3655-4010, Ma, Fang ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5476-6982, Birtel, Michèle D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2383-9197, Pan, Xueni ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1282-1469 and Farmer, Harry ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3684-0605 (2025) Squeeze the pain away: using a wireless ball to measure efforts to reduce other’s pain expressions in VR. In: CHI EA '25: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), New York, NY, United States, pp. 1-10. ISBN 979-8400713958 (doi:10.1145/3706599.3720164)

Preview

PDF (Accepted Conference Paper) 50241 ZHANG_Squeeze_The_Pain_Away_Using_A_Wireless_Ball_To_Measure_Efforts_To_Reduce_Other_s_Pain_Expressions_In_VR_(AAM)_2025.pdf - Accepted Version Download (22MB) | Preview

Abstract

Virtual reality has often been used as a tool to study empathy. However, few studies have explored users’ willingness to make physical effort to actively reduce others’ pain. We developed a pipeline that integrates a wireless stress ball into a VR environment. This device measures continuous grip force, enabling participants to adjust a virtual character’s pain expressions through squeezing: the harder they squeeze, the less intense the pain expressions become in real-time. This shifts the participants’ focus from passive observation to active participation. Our results indicated that participants were highly motivated to use the ball to reduce virtual characters’ pain and showed particularly high use of effort in the first 10 seconds of a 15-second trial. Eye-tracking data revealed that participants focused primarily on pain-related facial features, consistent with previous pain decoding studies. Our effort-based approach offers a novel method to study pain perception.

Item Type:	Conference Proceedings
Title of Proceedings:	CHI EA '25: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Additional Information:	"This work was supported by the Institute for Lifecourse Development and a Vice Chancellor Scholarship from the University of Greenwich awarded to the first author. The authors gratefully acknowledge Jiajun Fan for his valuable advice on mechanical force measurement, and the rest of the SEEVR Lab at Goldsmiths Computing for their support and generously providing the experimental venue and participants."
Uncontrolled Keywords:	real-time measures, engagement, pain, EDA, squeeze interaction, perception
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR T Technology > T Technology (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Mental Health Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	13 May 2025 11:36
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50241

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads