Key result
Heartscape visualization improves user focus, calmness, and emotional insight during wellbeing activities.
Why the study?
Traditional heart rate monitors lack emotionally relevant and aesthetically engaging visualization methods for heart coherence data to support emotional self-awareness.
Does Heartscape, a real-time heart coherence visualization system, improve emotional self-awareness and focus in users?
Does Heartscape, a real-time heart coherence visualization system, improve emotional self-awareness and focus in users?
Abstract physiological visualizations of heart coherence data can be emotionally relevant and practically useful for promoting calmness and focus.
We present Heartscape, a real-time heart coherence visualization system that transforms physiological data into abstract, dynamic shapes using Unreal Engine. Unlike traditional heart rate monitors, Heartscape visualizes heart rate, interbeat intervals, and coherence through the size, color, and movement of circles, creating an esthetically pleasant interface for emotional self-awareness. In our user study, participants reported that Heartscape enhanced focus during wellbeing activities, promoted calmness, and provided insights into their emotional states. There was strong user interest in daily adoption of Heartscape - both personally and for supporting others - which demonstrates how abstract physiological visualizations can make heart coherence data emotionally relevant and practically useful.
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Rook et al. (2026) studied this question. Heartscape was evaluated on User experience (focus, calmness, emotional insights). Heartscape enhanced focus, promoted calmness, and provided emotional insights during wellbeing activities, demonstrating strong user interest in daily adoption.
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