Workplace stress is a significant issue in Switzerland, impacting one in three employees.
That's why a team of specialists have invented a new way of detecting it, so they can help people cope with it.
Let's find out more.
A new way to detect stress
Detecting stress early is crucial, and researchers at ETH Zurich have made progress in this area.
Using new data and machine learning, they have developed a model that can predict stress levels based on typing and mouse usage patterns.
Surprisingly, these behaviors seem to be more indicative of workplace stress than heart rate.
Stressed individuals exhibit distinct typing and mouse behavior, such as imprecise mouse movements, longer distances covered, and more frequent typing mistakes.
This connection is explained by neuromotor noise theory, where increased stress impairs information processing and motor skills.
The researchers conducted a realistic experiment, observing participants performing office tasks.
They found that typing and mouse behavior was a better predictor of stress than heart rate.
Importantly, even participants in control groups performing tasks showed distinguishable stress-related behavior, making the findings more applicable to real workplace scenarios.
Why can it be helpful?
The researchers plan to validate their model with Swiss employees, using an app to collect mouse and keyboard data along with self-reported stress levels.
Ethical concerns are being addressed to ensure data privacy and responsible use of the technology.
The aim is to provide a tool for workers to identify and manage stress proactively, without becoming a surveillance tool for companies.
