Fidgeting is a universal behavior that people engage in, both deliberately and inadvertently. Traditionally, the fidgeting experience is limited by the immediate environment and the objects at hand, often resulting in a monotonous cycle of identical actions yielding identical responses. To extend the fidgeting experience, we introduce the integration of Mixed Reality (MR) technology. This integration will transform fidgeting into a programmable, dynamic activity, breaking the boundaries of traditional fidgeting by enriching the interaction with virtual elements combined with visual and auditory feedback, thus providing a more engaging and versatile sensory experience. We explore the design space of fidgeting within MR environments, identifying unique features that MR offers to enrich fidgeting experiences. By implementing various MR fidgeting experiences and evaluating them with a user study of 12 participants, we obtain useful insights that can serve to guide and stimulate further research in the broad field of fidgeting within MR contexts.

Paper: Exploring Fidgeting in Mixed Reality (submitted, pending review)