Sitting in the Same Boat: A Case Study of a Combined Awareness System and Behaviour Change Technology

Abstract

For several years, efforts have been taken to create systems for mediating a feeling of connectedness and affective awareness among separated family members or friends. At the same time research has been carried out on designing technology to foster behaviour change, especially to increase physical activity. Numerous works on behaviour change, both in academia and in the industry, draw strongly on motivating by utilizing interpersonal relationships. However, within this research social relationships are employed as a means of accomplishing positive behaviour. In this paper, we aim at designing a system for supporting both affective awareness and behaviour change with equal emphasis. We argue that such a system can benefit from the synergetic effects between both research concerns. Our prototype application demonstrates the concept, establishing connectedness through the shared experience of positive behaviour change (in our case study increased physical activity), enabled by both mutual motivation and a reverse rewarding strategy.