Breathe, Focus, Perform: Examining AR-Haptic Breathing Guidance in Fine Motor Skill Development

Developing fine motor skills requires complex coordination between physical and mental processes, which can be challenging for novices as they manage multiple sensory inputs while executing precise movements. To address this, we developed a proof-of-concept hybrid wearable system that guides mindful breathing through different combinations of AR feedback and air-induced haptic cues. Fifteen participants took part in a mixed-method exploratory study involving paper-based precision tasks inspired by welding. The outcomes indicate that the breathing guide with haptic cues can positively influence task performance and highlight a connection among improved performance, enhanced body awareness, and attention regulation with mindfulness exercises. While initial findings are promising, larger validation studies are needed. This study examines the potential for integrating mindfulness into fine motor skill development through multimodal interaction, suggesting applicability in welding and other skills as a complement to traditional training.