# DiminishAR: Diminishing Visual Distractions via Holographic AR Displays

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.03875 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.03875/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 6 Mar 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [WhiteTesseract: Reframing the Interpretation of Cultural Heritage through XR and Conversational AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.16972/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Smartphones are integral to modern life, yet research highlights the cognitive drawbacks associated with their mere presence. While physically removing them can mitigate these effects, it is often inconvenient and may heighten anxiety due to prolonged separation. To address this, we use holographic augmented reality (AR) displays to visually diminish distractions with two interventions: 1) Visual Camouflage, which disguises the smartphone with a hologram that matches its size and blends with the background, making it less noticeable, and 2) Visual Substitution, which occludes the smartphone with a contextually relevant hologram, like books on a desk. In a study with 60 participants, we compared cognitive performance with the smartphone nearby, remote, and visually diminished by our AR interventions. Our findings show that the interventions significantly reduce cognitive impairment, with effects comparable to physically removing the smartphone. The adaptability of our approach opens new avenues to manage visual distractions in daily life.