On Reducing Stress in Classrooms: Peripheral Vision Blocking Glasses

Levels of anxiety and other conditions that lead to negative sensory processing disorders are on the rise in high school and college age teeangers. This study will focus on creating peripheral vision blocking glasses that are socially acceptable in appearance and block enough vision to eliminate peripheral distractions. To make the glasses appear more inconspicuous, glass tinting and thicker plastic will be used on regular blue light blocking glasses. To aid in a classroom setting only the peripheral vision will be blocked, allowing for a full range of central vision. These glasses will then be tested on students in a classroom environment with peripheral distractors in place and a heart rate and respiratory monitor to estimate stress levels. Prototypes will be analyzed based on what fraction of peripheral vision blocked is most effective in reducing stress. It is hypothesized that there will be a certain acceptability of peripheral vision blocked, meaning that glasses that block out much but not all of the peripheral vision will be most effective in reducing stress. Blocking peripheral vision in a classroom setting, particularly for students with negative sensory processing disorders, could help reduce stress. Glasses that block vision could decrease anxiety in high school and college age adolescents, possibly increasing test scores.