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April 17, 2004
The web is about persuasion, not information
In 1997 my lab team and I started listing examples of computing systems designed to change people's beliefs and behaviors. At one point we believed we had listed over 80% of all existing examples, so we stopped gathering examples and moved on to other projects. Today it would be difficult--if not impossible--to list even 5% of the existing examples of persuasive technology. So much has changed in so little time. Using computing technology to influence people was once a rarity; today, using technology to influence people is commonplace. Virtually all web sites have some persuasive purpose. Those who create a web site almost always want to influence your attitude or behavior in some way. The web is not about sharing information with people -- that's an illusion. In reality, the web is about changing people's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.Posted by bjfogg at April 17, 2004 08:31 AM
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