Mindfulness meditation is a validated means of helping people manage stress. Voice-based virtual assistants (VAs) in smart speakers, smartphones, and smart environments can assist people in carrying out mindfulness meditation through guided experiences. However, the common fixed location embodiment of VAs makes it difficult to provide intuitive support. In this work, we explored the novel embodiment of a "wandering voice" that is co-located with the user and "moves" with the task. We developed a multi-speaker VA embedded in a yoga mat that changes location along the body according to the meditation experience. We conducted a qualitative user study in two sessions, comparing a typical fixed smart speaker to the wandering VA embodiment. Thick descriptions from interviews with twelve people revealed sometimes simultaneous experiences of immersion and dis-immersion. We offer design implications for "wandering voices" and a new paradigm for VA embodiment that may extend to guidance tasks in other contexts.

翻译：正念冥想是帮助人们管理压力的有效方法。嵌入智能音箱、智能手机及智能环境中的语音虚拟助手可通过引导式体验协助用户进行正念冥想。然而，语音助手常见的固定位置具身性使其难以提供直观的支持。本研究探索了一种与用户共位且随任务"移动"的"游走式语音"新型具身形态。我们开发了一款嵌入瑜伽垫的多扬声器语音助手，该设备能根据冥想过程在身体沿线变换位置。通过两阶段定性用户研究，我们将典型的固定智能音箱与游走式语音助手具身形态进行对比。对十二名参与者的深度访谈表明，用户会同时经历沉浸与抽离的体验。我们由此提出"游走式语音"的设计启示，并构建了可拓展至其他情境指导任务的语音助手具身新范式。