Evaluation Method of Ocean Healing Content on Stress Relieve Effects by Using Smart Watch and Questionnaire

Abstract

Recently, research on ocean healing resources has been conducted widely to enhance physical and mental health conditions. Among the ocean healing resources, peaceful and beautiful marine sceneries are also regarded as natural resources that can relieve stress and body pain. In this paper, the positive effects of immersive ocean healing content on stress mitigation are investigated. The basic evaluation procedure with specific biometric data was also established. To investigate this effect, a realistic ocean healing content with stereoscopic visualization is developed and tested as a preliminary experiment. During the experiments, biometric data (blood pressure, heart rate, stress index) are acquired using a wearable Smart Watch (Galaxy Watch 5 Pro) before and after watching the ocean healing content. In addition, the questionnaire evaluation of variation of SRI (Stress Response Inventory) is included. The average stress index value decreased -15.3% after watching ocean healing content, whereas there were no significant changes in blood pressure and heart beat. In addition, the prominent enhancement of SRI value in all stress properties (tension, aggression, somatization, anger, depression, fatigue, frustration) was found. Even though the number of experiment participants was limited, this study presents the positive roles of ocean healing content that improves mental health promotion effects. Moreover, this ocean healing evaluation methodology can be utilized and reviewed as preliminary research. In the following study, different types of immersive ocean healing content using VR, AR, and MR technology will be applied. And, more biometric data acquisition methods using a wearable device linkage platform will be tested. Moreover, application platforms for immersive simulators could be also considered as a new utilization plan.