Exploring VUI-Supported Mindfulness Techniques for Smoking Cessation

This study investigates the effectiveness of Voice User Interfaces (VUIs) in supporting mindfulness techniques for smoking cessation. We conducted a month-long between-subject study involving nine participants, comparing a VUI on smart speakers against an augmented VUI (a blend of VUI and Graphical User Interface) on mobile devices. Specifically, we evaluated how these interfaces support individuals in quitting smoking through mindfulness practices. Our results include qualitative insights on participants' experiences with mindfulness, their smoking cessation motivation, and engagement with the VUI prototypes, alongside quantitative data on their usage patterns. Our findings offer insights into the potential application of VUIs in smoking cessation and suggest design guidelines for future health-oriented applications. The study underscores the importance of device context in designing effective health interventions and sets the direction for future work in HCI and mindfulness applications.