the break light: calm technology for behavior change
DESCRIPTION
My capstone project for the Human-Computer Interaction Design program at Indiana University. The Break Light is intended to help motivate people to get up and move around during computer use, through the familiar routine of drinking water and then getting up to refill the cup or go to the bathroom. The Break Light relies on increases in brightness and speed, and changes in color temperature over time and as the water level in the cup goes down, to gently remind the user that they should drink water, and refill the cup.TRANSCRIPT
The Break Light
calm technology for behavior change
Lorelei Kelly HCI/d 2010
The Problem
You don’t get up and move enough
Literature ReviewExemplarsPrimary Research
Literature ReviewExemplarsPrimary Research
Design Goals
Literature ReviewExemplarsPrimary Research
ConceptPrototypeContribution
Design Goals
Literature Review
Flow
Common
Flow
Important
Flow
Absorbing
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity : Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
Design Goal
Support flow, don’t disrupt it
Calm Technology
Comforting, soothing to use
Comforting, soothing to use
Computers often enraging
Calm Technology
Calm Technology
Computers demand attention
Calm Technology
Computers demand attention
Calm tech exists at periphery until needed
Tugui, A. (2004). Calm technologies in a multimedia world, UbiquityWeiser, M., & Seely Brown, J. (1995). Designing Calm Technology.
Design Goal
Facilitate smooth transitions of attention
Safe Computing
Prolonged static posture is risky
Safe Computing
Prolonged static posture is risky
Being active provides benefits
Jensen, C. (2003). Development of Neck and Hand-Wrist Symptoms in Relation to Duration of Computer Use at Work.. Blatter, B. M. & Bongers, P. M. (2002). Duration of Computer Use and Mouse Use in Relation to Musculoskeletal Disorders of Neck or Upper Limb.
Design Goal
Motivate short, frequent, physically active breaks
Interruptions
Complex cognitive tasks are disruptive
Interruptions
Complex cognitive tasks are disruptive
Obscuring a workspace is distracting
Interruptions
Complex cognitive tasks are disruptive
Obscuring a workspace is distracting
People develop coping strategies
Gillie, T & Broadbent, D. (1989). What Makes Interruptions Disruptive? A Study of Length, Similarity, and Complexity.Iqbal, S. T., & Horvitz, E. (2007). Disruption and recovery of computing tasks: field study, analysis, and directions.
Design Goal
Preserve the user’s workspace, physically and mentally
Value Sensitive Design
Value conflicts
Design Goal
Respect personal autonomy
Exemplars
Calendar Reminders
Timer Software
RSI Prevention
RSI Prevention
RSI Prevention
RSI Prevention
Design Goal
Focus on stretch breaks
Extreme Alarms
Implied action
Design Goal
Imply actions
Persuasive Devices
Breakaway
Primary Research
Interviews
Widespread awareness
Interviews
Widespread awareness
Unsuccessful strategies
Interviews
Widespread awareness
Unsuccessful strategies
Personality differences
Interviews
Widespread awareness
Unsuccessful strategies
Personality differences
Purposeful breaks
Observations
Computers constrain work in unique ways
Design Goals
Support flow & engagement
Facilitate smooth transitions of attention
Motivate short, frequent, physically active breaks
Preserve workspace, physically and mentally
Support transparency and personal autonomy
Concept
The Break Light
Drink water to regulate breaksLighted coaster to remind and encourage
The Break Light
The Break Light
The Break Light
The Break Light
The Break Light
Reminder Reward
Design Goals
Support flow
Design Goals
Support flowSmooth attention transitions
Design Goals
Support flowSmooth attention transitionsMotivate
Design Goals
Support flowSmooth attention transitionsMotivatePreserve workspace
Design Goals
Support flowSmooth attention transitionsMotivatePreserve workspacePersonal autonomy
Prototype
Prototype
Prototype
Prototype
Prototype
Prototype
Prototype
Prototype
Contributions
Calm Technology
Smooth shifts in attention
Reduces frustration
Supports flexibility and autonomy
Thank YouErik Stolterman • Marty Siegel • Shaowen Bardzell • Binaebi Akah • Chad Camara • Sean Connelly • Lynn Dombrowski • Drew McKinney • Dane Petersen • Matt Snyder • Jay Steele • Xuan Wang • Yuebo Wang • Yujia Zhao • The HCI/d class of 2010 • Peter Breen • Janet Davis • Bob Kelly • Judy Kelly