Fritz. Persuasive technology in the real world: a study of long-term use of activity sensing devices for fitness.

Question 1

background

Answer 1

Persuasive technology to motivate healthy behavior is a growing area of research within HCI and ubiquitous
computing. The emergence of commercial wearable devices for tracking health- and fitness-related activities arguably represents the first widespread adoption of dedicated ubiquitous persuasive technology. The recent ubiquity of commercial systems allows us to learn about their value and use in truly “in the wild” contexts and understand how practices evolve over long-term, naturalistic use.

Question 2

methods

Answer 2

• This article presents a study on the long-term use of wearable activity-tracking devices for fitness.
• The researchers conducted interviews with 30 participants who had been using these devices for 3 to 54 months.
• The study aimed to understand the evolving benefits and practices surrounding these technologies over extended periods of use.

Question 3

results

Answer 3

• Participants often relied on default system goals, contrasting with previous research suggesting a preference for self-set goals.
• Users exhibited an extreme focus on numerical data and goals, sometimes engaging in “number fishing” activities solely to meet system rewards.
• Social features proved to be highly motivating for long-term users, offering additional goals and competition.
• The devices continued to provide value and motivation even after months or years of use, supporting both behavior change and maintenance.

Question 4

implications:

Answer 4

we should focus on designing for both behavior change and maintenance, and improving support for finding relevant and motivating communities