Behavioural Nudge with an Always-on Smartphone Application to Promote Physical Activity

( Human Computer Interaction (old) Series )

Parisa Eslambolchilar, Department of Computer Science, Swansea University

Date and time: Tuesday 9th April 2013 at 16:00
Location: UG10, Learning Centre
Host: Russell Beale

The aim of this talk is to provide a focal point for research and ubiquitous technologies dedicated to physical activity behaviour change. Although patterns of consumption are shaped by the taken-for-granted practices of everyday life, they are not fixed. Therefore, it is important to understand how the habits of everyday life change and evolve. Smartphones can play a significant role in shaping normal practices in three distinct ways: (1) they facilitate the capture of information at the right time and place; (2) they provide non-invasive and cost effective methods for communicating personalised data that compare individual performance with relevant social group performance; and (3) they facilitate social goal sharing. In this talk I will focus on a rigorous and large-scale field trial of bActive, a new, digital, smartphone-based app for the promotion of walking in everyday life. Unlike most similar active-lifestyle apps, bActive does not need to be activated prior to exercise and needs no special additional equipment. bActive is developed through the CHARM project (EPSRC ref EP/H006966/1- www.projectcharm.info).