Abstract
This study is based on five selected principles from the Twelve Basic Principles of Animation to design short video breathing guidance interfaces with different combinations of rhythm regularity and temporal expectation. An experiment with thirty participants was conducted to examine how these temporal design factors influence relaxation experience, attentional performance, and cognitive load. Data were collected through EEG recordings, subjective questionnaires, and interviews. The results indicate that interfaces with stable rhythmic structures and clear temporal cues significantly reduced uncertainty and cognitive load, enhanced relaxation, and improved user experience. In contrast, irregular rhythms and the absence of temporal expectation increased cognitive burden and diminished relaxation effects. Further analysis revealed that while rhythm regularity and temporal expectation are conceptually distinct, they are interrelated yet function independently, with rhythm regularity playing a more decisive role in promoting relaxation. These findings highlight the potential value of incorporating rhythm-based temporal structures into short video relaxation interfaces and provide practical implications for designing interactive tools to support relaxation and sleep improvement.
Keywords
Breathing guidance for insomnia; Short video; Rhythm regularity; Temporal expectation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.727
Citation
Tsai, C., Li, Y., Wu, K.,and Lung, C.(2025) Shaping Relaxing Short Videos with Animation Principles: A Preliminary Study on Rhythm and Temporal Expectation, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.727
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 10 - Design Practices & Impacts
Shaping Relaxing Short Videos with Animation Principles: A Preliminary Study on Rhythm and Temporal Expectation
This study is based on five selected principles from the Twelve Basic Principles of Animation to design short video breathing guidance interfaces with different combinations of rhythm regularity and temporal expectation. An experiment with thirty participants was conducted to examine how these temporal design factors influence relaxation experience, attentional performance, and cognitive load. Data were collected through EEG recordings, subjective questionnaires, and interviews. The results indicate that interfaces with stable rhythmic structures and clear temporal cues significantly reduced uncertainty and cognitive load, enhanced relaxation, and improved user experience. In contrast, irregular rhythms and the absence of temporal expectation increased cognitive burden and diminished relaxation effects. Further analysis revealed that while rhythm regularity and temporal expectation are conceptually distinct, they are interrelated yet function independently, with rhythm regularity playing a more decisive role in promoting relaxation. These findings highlight the potential value of incorporating rhythm-based temporal structures into short video relaxation interfaces and provide practical implications for designing interactive tools to support relaxation and sleep improvement.