Preliminary design of a wearable persuasive computing device, a presentation for Ambient Visualisation with Devices (DESC9179), semester 2, 2007, Faculty of Architecture Design and Planning, The University of Sydney, by Piotr Kulaga. http://home.exetel.com.au/dataist/portfolio/nsp/index.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkMCtFqumP0&feature=relmfu

1. A Persuasive Computing Device
Amulet to Quit Smoking
A Preliminary Design Presentation
by Piotr Kulaga
desc9179 – Semester 2, 2007
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 1

2. Amulet to quit smoking
a wearable persuasive device
 Objectives
Aid the user in the effort to quit smoking cigarettes.
Employ methods which operate in a subtle manner, imposing only a
minimum of burden and annoyance.
 Means
Utilise Persuasive Computing technology to moderate the habitual
smoking routines.
Implemented as a wearable device interacting with the user.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 2

3. Persuasive Computing
methodology
A combination of technical & theoretical techniques aiming to;
 Promote intrinsic motivation through self-reflection.
 Avoid nagging, punishment or coercion.
 Focus on novelty and surprise to induce the desired effect.
 Target the user behaviour when it occurs and the intervention is
most effective.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 3

4. Persuasive Computing
means of persuasion
 Monitor, analyse performance and act to influence the user
behaviour in real-time.
 Use timely, appropriate to the situation and subtle feedback.
Employ infrequent and brief sound sequences.
 Consider the social impact and context of the device in
operation.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 4

5. Persuasive device
the mode of operation
 The user interacts with the wearable device in everyday life.
An ambient personal device.
 Feedback is ambiguous and exhibits random behaviour.
The user interprets the interactions and reflects on the goals and their performance.
 The device can also interface with a PC.
A non-critical element of operation for activity analysis and expansion.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 5

6. Persuasive device
the logical process flow
 A physical sensor detects user actions.
 The signal is analysed to recognise smoking events.
By comparison to typical and extreme performance criteria.
 Some reasoning is performed regarding;
User’s performance.
Possible context of a given situation. (Previous interactions.)
Appropriate mode of intervention.
 Aural feedback is provided to the user.
Sound clues symbolising positive and negative states are presented.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 6

7. Device development [1]
sensor experiments
 The initial experiments employed
a photoelectric smoke detector.
Which often failed to detect the targeted activity.
 The PIR sensor advantages;
sensitivity,
selectivity,
adaptability to other activities.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 7

8. Device development [2]
sensing the targeted behaviour
 PIR sensor – the principles of detection.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 8

9. Device development [3]
feedback sound clues
 Sounds revoking nature are used.
Bird, cricket, cicada and heavy breathing.
 Random and periodic signal fluctuations
combine to generate simple sounds.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 9

10. Amulet design
concluding observations
 The physical characteristics of the amulet may have a limited
appeal.
Blokes
 While the device operates primarily in a standalone mode, the PC
interface allows for updates and evaluation of the collected data.
New sound synthesis programs.
 The system software can be adopted to address other behaviour
modification problems.
Providing similar physical characteristics, eg fingernail biting.
3 Oct 07 'AMULET TO QUIT SMOKING' by Piotr Kulaga - desc9179 Ambient Visualisation with Devices 10