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Guest lecture: Positive Design for Extended Reality Experiences

On March 28, Lucas Wozniak delivered a lecture titled “Positive Design for Extended Reality Experiences” for DEA 3308 Positive Design Studio. Mr. Wozniak develops accessible mental health technologies, combining his expertise in interactive telecommunications with Extended Reality (XR) digital therapeutics. In his lecture, Mr. Wozniak explained the methods behind the development of the Audio Labyrinth, an innovative AR smartphone app that guides users through an immersive, audio-driven landscape while encouraging behaviors that enhance their well-being. He demonstrated the technology using a prototype “episode” that guided users through somatic mindfulness practices, such as breath-work with an audio-immersive walking meditation. After the lecture, Mr. Wozniak led a workshop where students chose from a list of evidence-based Positive Emotion Regulation (PER) techniques (e.g., self-congratulating, gratitude) as the central experiential goal of their own Audio Labyrinth “episodes.” The presentations of the students’ speculative designs sparked in-class discussions about applying Positive Design principles in experience-driven contexts.