CalmaStep: Designing Playful Interaction for Managing Collective Stress

Yunyin Lou; Jun Hu

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-12392-3_26

CalmaStep: Designing Playful Interaction for Managing Collective Stress

Yunyin Lou
, Jun Hu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study introduces CalmaStep, a system designed to physicalize collective stress with an integrated notification feature. The prototype anonymously displays individual stress levels in a modular format, encouraging playful interactions and the exchange of subtle messages within an office setting while accommodating preferences for emotional privacy. Quantitative methods have been used to measure changes of stress levels following notifications, while qualitative methods have been used to investigate participants’ interpretations of the notifications and the resulting social dynamics. The quantitative analysis did not show a significant reduction in stress levels, while qualitative findings demonstrated CalmaStep’s potential to promote discussions on common topics and enhance social dynamics.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	HCI International 2025 - Late Breaking Papers
Subtitle of host publication	27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 22–27, 2025, Proceedings
Editors	Don Harris, Wen-Chin Li, Norbert A. Streitz, Shin'ichi Konomi
Publisher	Springer
Pages	397-412
Number of pages	16
Volume	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9783032123923
ISBN (Print)	9783032123916
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12392-3_26
Publication status	Published - 2026
Event	Late breaking papers from the 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2025 - Gothenburg, Sweden Duration: 22 Jun 2025 → 27 Jun 2025

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume	16334 LNCS
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	Late breaking papers from the 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2025
Country/Territory	Sweden
City	Gothenburg
Period	22/06/25 → 27/06/25

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Keywords

Collective stress
Employee wellness
Flexible interactive interface
Industrial design
Social dynamics office environment
Stress physicalization

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-12392-3_26

Cite this

Lou, Y., & Hu, J. (2026). CalmaStep: Designing Playful Interaction for Managing Collective Stress. In D. Harris, W.-C. Li, N. A. Streitz, & S. Konomi (Eds.), HCI International 2025 - Late Breaking Papers : 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 22–27, 2025, Proceedings (Vol. 4, pp. 397-412). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 16334 LNCS). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12392-3_26

Lou, Yunyin ; Hu, Jun. / CalmaStep : Designing Playful Interaction for Managing Collective Stress. HCI International 2025 - Late Breaking Papers : 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 22–27, 2025, Proceedings. editor / Don Harris ; Wen-Chin Li ; Norbert A. Streitz ; Shin'ichi Konomi. Vol. 4 Springer, 2026. pp. 397-412 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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abstract = "This study introduces CalmaStep, a system designed to physicalize collective stress with an integrated notification feature. The prototype anonymously displays individual stress levels in a modular format, encouraging playful interactions and the exchange of subtle messages within an office setting while accommodating preferences for emotional privacy. Quantitative methods have been used to measure changes of stress levels following notifications, while qualitative methods have been used to investigate participants{\textquoteright} interpretations of the notifications and the resulting social dynamics. The quantitative analysis did not show a significant reduction in stress levels, while qualitative findings demonstrated CalmaStep{\textquoteright}s potential to promote discussions on common topics and enhance social dynamics.",

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Lou, Y & Hu, J 2026, CalmaStep: Designing Playful Interaction for Managing Collective Stress. in D Harris, W-C Li, NA Streitz & S Konomi (eds), HCI International 2025 - Late Breaking Papers : 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 22–27, 2025, Proceedings. vol. 4, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 16334 LNCS, Springer, pp. 397-412, Late breaking papers from the 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, 22/06/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12392-3_26

CalmaStep: Designing Playful Interaction for Managing Collective Stress. / Lou, Yunyin; Hu, Jun.
HCI International 2025 - Late Breaking Papers : 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 22–27, 2025, Proceedings. ed. / Don Harris; Wen-Chin Li; Norbert A. Streitz; Shin'ichi Konomi. Vol. 4 Springer, 2026. p. 397-412 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 16334 LNCS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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Lou Y, Hu J. CalmaStep: Designing Playful Interaction for Managing Collective Stress. In Harris D, Li WC, Streitz NA, Konomi S, editors, HCI International 2025 - Late Breaking Papers : 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 22–27, 2025, Proceedings. Vol. 4. Springer. 2026. p. 397-412. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-12392-3_26