Exploring the Design Space of Input Modalities for Working in Mixed Reality on Long-haul Flights

Flexible working, including in resource-constrained settings such as long-haul flights, poses considerable challenges. While research in mixed reality (MR) offers the potential for enhancing experiences of working on airplanes (WoA), what input modalities and interactions might be suitable for such workspaces is under-explored. To address this gap, we created four design probes and demonstrated their interactions within MR for WoA using a branching decision-based interactive video. 24 participants engaged in the think-aloud study with the video where they selected which probe to watch based on personal preference and order. The follow-up interview further solidified their general preferences for intuitive and friction-free inputs, revealed strong concerns about reliability, discreetness, and portability, and showed high enthusiasm for interactive video. Based on these findings, we contribute a context-driven design space of input modalities for WoA in MR, extending the understanding of design opportunities for inputs with MR in confined spaces.