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June 29, 2007
Voice, text, images - the only options for mobile persuasion
In the future mobile phones will run all sorts of third-party applications, much like computers do now. However, getting third-party apps onto mobile phones is extremely challenging today.
Until the mobile industry changes, persuading people to change behavior via mobile phones offers just three modes:
1. Text messaging
2. Voice interaction
3. Photos
So suppose you work at Kaiser Permanente and want to get your members be more physically active. Yes, the mobile phone is an option for motivating people. You should not develop an application for phones. Instead, look at what's possible with texting, interactive voice, and imaging (both capturing images and viewing them). For now, that's the design space of mobile persuasion (unless you have a really geeky audience or can give people phones with your app already installed).
--BJ Fogg
Posted by BJ Fogg at June 29, 2007 03:12 PM