PAWSE: A Laptop-Peripheral Robot Supporting Micro-Breaks through Fidgeting-Based Tangible Interaction

초록

Inspired by the playful, attention-seeking paw gestures of cats, we present PAWSE, a laptop-peripheral robot that encourages short fidgeting-based micro-breaks during digital work. PAWSE integrates a cat-paw-inspired robotic arm with a web-based timer that prompts brief tactile interaction during scheduled breaks. We conducted a within-subjects study comparing three conditions-no break, passive break, and active (PAWSE fidgeting-based) break-using a 2-back task and subjective workload measures (NASA-TLX). Results showed differences in post-task accuracy across conditions, with the highest accuracy observed in the active break condition. Reaction time remained largely comparable. Workload measures indicated reduced mental demand and frustration during rest conditions, with the active break providing the most favorable subjective experience. These preliminary findings offer insight into how fidgeting-based micro-breaks may fit within focused digital work and inform the design of future tactile micro-break systems. © 2026 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).

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