« June 2007 | Main | August 2007 »
July 30, 2007
Learning, Design and Technology Expo
At the Learning, Design, and Technology Expo, Stanford graduate students in the school of Learning, Design and Technology displayed their master's projects, showing off their hard work and creativity throughout the program. At the expo, there was a plethora of rich, cutting edge examples of captology put to use. Many of the projects included a simulated reality, often in the form of a game, that was designed to change a persons behavior. For example, the project by Vic Vuchic and Greg Warman entitled "Financial Smackdown" consists of an online and mobile phone-based virtual reality where the user is assigned a character to lead around this virtual reality. The user takes responsibility for the character's financial well-being, allowing him to buy practical things and preventing him from over-indulging. Through the example and practice with this character, the user learns good financial habits and awareness. This program will hopefully help to fight off the financial crisis that is "looming" in America as a result of unhealthy financial strategies. This again was only one of the many great examples of captology put to use at the expo. Other examples ranged from inspiring better recycling strategies to helping teachers be more effective with long division. In fact, the Persuasive Technology Lab's very own Rolf Steier had a fascinating exhibit on his project entitled "Discovery Pathways: Developing Science Thinking in Children by Mapping Connections in Museum Spaces." The expo was held at the Wallenberg Hall at Stanford University. More inforation can be found here: http://events.stanford.edu/events/116/11662/.
--Dana Sittler
Posted by Dana Sittler at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 24, 2007
Persuasive games article by Human Factors International
Dr. Kath Straub of Human Factors International touches on how to use simulation games to change behavior: http://www.humanfactors.com/downloads/jul07.asp
Unfortunately, she doesn't explain the concept of captology, and she doesn't mention the Serious Games community. I think she should have done both to help her readers understand the big picture better. But still, her article is worth reading. It's both clear and scholarly.
Dr. Straub begins the article with this overview:
In simplified form, the logic of "interaction-to-action" claims goes something like this:1. People engaged in a simulation game have experiences and adopt strategic responses they may have never considered without the game.
2. Certain responses get rewarded with points or other rewards (e.g., promotion to the next level; special powers or resources and ultimately winning the game).
3. Players repeat / practice / explore "winning" responses in an attempt to do even better.
4. Responses that are reinforced – or even just experienced – will be easier to think of and execute the next time the player encounters a similar situation – in the game or otherwise.
Dr. Straub wraps up with these questions:
Consider these questions as you start creating "serious games" for your reality.* What decisions or actions does your site or application try to help people execute?
* Can/do you use or embed interactive, self-directed feedback to help users understand the impact of making various decisions?
* Are the interactive task flows appropriate, available, and obvious at key decision points?
* Are they "walk-up easy" to interact with and use?
* Do the interactives invite you to fiddle with them? Or are they just scary?
* Can users explore alternate strategies effectively?
* Can users translate the feedback to "what-next" action?
* Are the interactives engaging and persuasive... from the customer's perspective?
--BJ Fogg
Posted by BJ Fogg at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2007
TeleDoc in India Tele-Health Care in Pakistan
Mobile phones are being used by health care workers to tele-diagnose health problems in rural areas of the developing world. I would like to highlight one initiative in India and one in Pakistan here. I would also welcome examples of similar initiatives that we can publicize on this blog. Please feel free to send them to me.
TeleDoc in India as noted on: http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds12004/experiences-469.html
"provides handheld mobile phone devices to village health workers in India, permitting them to communicate with doctors who use a web application to help diagnose and prescribe for patients. The process of creating TeleDoc began in 2001, when the India-based Jiva worked closely with community heads of villages in Haryana to identify healthcare priorities and test appropriate health solutions. The result is a system that uses Java-enabled mobile telephones to provide village-based healthcare workers with real-time ability to record and transmit diagnostic information. Custom database applications, which synchronise with record-management systems at Jiva's clinic, enable doctors to analyse the data and then prescribe medication and treatment. Medicines are compounded at a regional office, picked up by field workers, and delivered to patients in their homes - a network of pharmacies and delivery people supports this process. The approximate cost of the entire TeleDoc process is 70 rupees (US$1.50) per consultation."
In neighboring Pakistan, Atif Mumtaz has started a similar initiative under the name of Tele-Health Care. His project, incubated at Stanford University, seeks to provide tele medicine focused at first on skin-diseases in remote villages in Northern Pakistan.
Tele-Health Care's impressive initiative may be viewed on: http://tele-healthcare.org/ and Atif's blog chronicling his journey may be read on: http://blogs.tele-healthcare.org/
Posted by Adam at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
Uncle Sam and Mobile Phone Industry Players Team Up for Health in the Developing World
A potentially amazing public-private partnership is being forged between the US Government and several mobile phone industry playes that may set the standard for utilizing mobile devices for in-the-field health data collection in the developing world.
According to a summary of the initiative available on: http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds2007/experiences-4208.html
"The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Emergency Plan/PEPFAR) is working along with the several mobile phone industry companies and other private-sector partners to leverage technology to connect health systems in PEPFAR-supported countries. The programme provides health workers in the field with a Motorola-made phone that is equipped with an application that lets them enter health data on patients. That information is then sent by way of general packet radio services (GPRS) to a central database. (If a GPRS network is not available, it can be sent via SMS.) The data is analysed and mapped by the system and then made available to health officials through a real-time internet database. PEPFAR will provide initial support for system roll-out in Rwanda and Nigeria in 2007, with a plan to eventually extend the partnership to at least 8 additional countries on this continent and then expand into Asia as well. While initially focused on HIV/AIDS, the goal is to use the system to address infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria."
A graphic of how PEPFAR works is available on:
Download file
This is a partnership to watch for the procedures that come into place may well create a replicable model that could be rolled out in much of the developing world for a number of different applications.
A similar initiative led by a technologist husband and epidemiologist wife and incubated at Stanford University is in alpha testing in India. For a description, see: http://rdvp.org/fellows/2006-2007/shashank-garg/
Surely many other initiatives that utilize mobiles for health data collection in the developing world. I would like to showcase other initiatives and as such kindly request readers of this blog to share with me any examples they care to share.
Posted by Adam at 10:27 AM | Comments (0)
July 16, 2007
Philips Europe seeks captologist (persuasive technology)
Do you want to live in Holland and build persuasive technology products?
Then my friend Boris De Ruyter wants to hear from you. He's a principal scientist at Philips Research Europe. He's seeking a senior scientist who understands captology.
This is one of the coolest jobs I've seen lately with a big company. Read on for details . . .
--BJ Fogg
A couple links from BJ to give context:
http://www.design.philips.com/about/design/index.html
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/oct2005/id20051025_243657.htm
http://www.newscenter.philips.com/About/News/Section-13674/article-15577.html
---------------------
Senior scientist position at Philips Research Eindhoven, The Netherlands
The candidate should hold a MSc. in psychology and have affinity with industrial research on User – System Interaction. Practical experience with methodologies and data analysis techniques for conducting empirical research as well as strong experience in the area of research into persuasive technologies is required. The candidate should have strong conceptual and analytical skills and is able to form and communicate own views. At the same time the candidate is part of a multi-disciplinary team working for customers, which requires a cooperative and customer-oriented attitude. The offered function includes task such as:
• deliver contributions to projects as required by the project leader and the customer;
• contribute to the development of transferable results within the defined projects;
• contribute to the patent portfolio;
• support related research projects and colleagues in setting up empirical research projects;
• deploy model, assessment methods and tools in research projects into persuasive technologies;
• carry out free research: prescreen own creative ideas on their usefulness for Philips, and find ways to propose new ideas and get them accepted;
The successful candidate will offered a position as senior scientist in the Cognitive & Behavioral Insights capability cluster at Philips Research Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The Cognitive and Behavioral Insights capability cluster delivers user Insights for the conceptualization of technological solutions that bring compelling user experiences. In the context of user – system interaction and system mediated communication, the cluster deploys and extends knowledge on human cognition, emotion and social interaction. With capabilities in the area of human cognition, behavioural models and empirical research methodologies, the cluster's research focuses on the themes of (i) persuasion and motivation, (ii) social presence and awareness and (iii) emotion and experience.
Application letter and curriculum vitae can be emailed to Boris.de.Ruyter@philips.com
Posted by BJ Fogg at 01:42 PM | Comments (0)
July 15, 2007
Persuasive Tech Lab Takes on Website Optimization
This Lab has started a new project: website optimization. The primary tool will be the Google Website Optimizer. This application is an easy way to perform tests on your website in order to maximize the site's conversion rate. The conversion rate is essentially getting the site's visitors to stay longer and perform the ultimate task desired, be it purchasing a book or completing a survey. With Google Website Optimizer, the user creates up to three different variations of up to three important aspects of the website, such as the title or main image. The application then generates random versions of the website with the variations and puts them into use, tracking how long the visitors stay and how far they go into the website. After the results are reported the user will be given a report on each individual part and how it affected the conversion rate. They also receive a combined report as to how the random sample pages measured up. With these results the user is able to make the necessary changes to their website that will enhance their page, their visitors' satisfaction, and the company's success. The lab intends to perform a test experiment on the mobile persuasion website very soon. A sample of a report generated by Google Website Optimizer is shown below.
--Dana Sittler
Posted by Dana Sittler at 10:41 PM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2007
Google's persuasive mobile platform grows
Restaurants, shops, cinemas and bars among many companies are one step closer to promoting their services to mobile subscribers based on their immediate location through Google Maps. The free mobile version is available for a wide range of handset models and is growing through the introduction of personalized "Maplets" which can overlay anything that you can put into a normal webpage, including HTML, Javascript, and Flash. Realtors can overlay local crime statistics on a neighborhood while hotels can post pictures of the surrounding environment making maps used by potential clients more informative and interactive. However, Google's bottom-up approach continues to influence developers but its direct affect on consumers remains a question.
Posted by Enrique at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)
July 11, 2007
Job opening for captologist (persuasive technology)
More companies are contacting me for help hiring people with expertise in persuasive technology. The latest comes from HP in Vancouver, Washington. This job isn't for captology per se, but they know this perspective would be valuable. --BJ Fogg
-------------------
Human-Centric Experience/Interaction Designer
Hewlett Packard
Vancouver, Washington
Job description
As a human centric interaction designer you will work with a skilled, multi-disciplinary team of designers and engineers to ideate, develop, and design the user experience for HP inkjet printers. This will include design of and participation in field and lab research, analysis and interpretation of both secondary and primary research data streams, ideation of user space solutions, creation of interactive prototypes for use in user participatory design and internal communication, creation of concept communication vehicles, fully developed interaction design expressions (including active prototypes), and specification of interaction designs.
You will work directly with other design professionals and those from different disciplines and functions (engineering, marketing, quality) to define and implement interaction designs in the product/user interaction space.
HP is the worldwide leader in inkjet printer sales and revenue. This part of the HP inkjet business designs products that sell in the many millions per year, around the globe. Millions of people will see and experience the results of your work.
Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree in interaction design or related design field. Undergrad degree in CS and/or SW human interaction design, or equivalent programming/design experience highly desirable.
Experience and knowledge:
Direct applied screen UI/Interaction design experience very desirable. Behavioral/ethnographic research desirable. Graphic/industrial design experience desirable. Web interaction design experience highly desirable. Flash programming experience.
Skills:
Strong perceptive and empathetic abilities in your design process are a must. Candidates will demonstrate a strong comprehension of and appreciation for holistic design and a systems perspective. You are motivated to dig deep into the user experience to uncover nuances of human behavior that can inform innovative and meaningful design. You will be expected to demonstrate a high level of initiative and a passion for excellence in your work.
You must have excellent teamwork, communication, and technical problem-solving skills to contribute within both your home design team and in multi-functional and multi-disciplined project teams. Flexibility and versatility in terms of specific work assignments in the design and development environment (research, design, specifications, documentation) are expected. You must demonstrate the ability to use visual design tools (manual and computer) to communicate complex abstract ideas to technical and business audiences.
Contact
John Provost, Design Manager, HP Consumer Inkjet Systems
john.provost@hp.com | 360.212.2444
Posted by BJ Fogg at 05:06 PM | Comments (0)
It's like a global, web-based intercom . . .
I sometimes need to have meetings with people from all over. My favorite mode is WalkieTalkie (created by my company YackPack).
Below is one of our voice widgets. You just push the "live" button and talk. Everyone on the page can hear you talk. They can talk back when they push the button. You need to hold the button down while talking, just like a walkie-talkie. -- BJ Fogg
Posted by BJ Fogg at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)
July 09, 2007
Persuasive GPS - Brings Your Friends Along!
New iPhone owners may be sorely disappointed at the lack of built-in GPS (including myself!), but TeleNav's new mobile GPS application may be a solution. TeleNav recently launched a new version of their in-phone GPS application which now includes key social networking features, allowing users to quickly send their current location information to friends and family. The app also enables users to review and rate businesses and share findings with friends. Timely suggestions in this application could be highly persuasive.
I believe that location-based mobile applications will define the future of mobile persuasion. Check back for updates from our lab on related projects and research.
[from CrunchGear]
----- Dan Ackerman-Greenberg
Posted by Dan at 02:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 03, 2007
Persuasive 2008 will be in Finland
We've counted the votes, and Finland has won the bid to host Persuasive 2008.
How did we decide this?
During Persuasive 2007 at Stanford University, the consensus was to hold Persuasive 2008 in Europe. Various organizations wanted to host the event, so we agreed that a democratic selection process would be best. Participants in Persuasive 2007 were invited to vote on proposals for Persuasive 2008.
The voting process and results were verified by myself (Stanford University), Rex Moody (Central Washington University), and Ian Bogost (Georgia Tech).
The results:
- Finland will be the location for Persuasive 2008.
- Our hosts will be Harri Oinas-Kukkonen, University of Oulu, & Per Hasle, University of Aalborg
I look forward to gathering with colleagues again, this time in the "land of the midnight sun"!
--BJ Fogg
(Go to www.persuasive2008.org to read the winning proposal.)
Posted by BJ Fogg at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2007
Captology to Promote Alternative Transportation
A project called altVerto based out of the University of Michigan is attempting to persuade drivers to use alternative transportation. Users decide to install a plugin that interacts with mapping sites. When users search for a route, the program "displays alternative transportation options along with the associated [financial and environmental] savings. This seems like a perfect example of captology at work and the designers have several nice insights detailed on their site below:
--Rolf Steier
Posted by Rolf at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)