Ambient Persuasive Technology Research Articles

The influence of color association strength and consistency on ease of processing of ambient lighting feedback

Lighting feedback may use colors that through their associations help users to easily process feedback messages and adapt their behavior. Study 1 showed more ease of processing (of feedback messages) only for participants receiving strongly-associated lighting feedback, as their processing times were not increased by additional cognitive load. Also, lighting feedback that was strongly associated with the message had stronger persuasive effects on behavior. Study 2 tested the effects of consistency of color association with the message. For example, while normally green is associated with low energy consumption, the inconsistent feedback condition showed green colors indicating high energy consumption. Results showed that only the inconsistent version of strongly-associated lighting feedback slowed down the processing of feedback messages. Also, consistent feedback had stronger persuasive effects on behavior. These findings increase our understanding of the psychological mechanisms of ambient persuasive technology showing the important role of strong and consistent associations of ambient lighting.

A foundation for the study of behavior change support systems

The emerging ambient persuasive technology looks very promising for many areas of personal and ubiquitous computing. Persuasive applications aim at changing human attitudes or behavior through the power of software designs. This theory-creating article suggests the concept of a behavior change support system (BCSS), whether web-based, mobile, ubiquitous, or more traditional information system to be treated as the core of research into persuasion, influence, nudge, and coercion. This article provides a foundation for studying BCSSs, in which the key constructs are the O/C matrix and the PSD model. It will (1) introduce the archetypes of behavior change via BCSSs, (2) describe the design process for building persuasive BCSSs, and (3) exemplify research into BCSSs through the domain of health interventions. Recognizing the themes put forward in this article will help leverage the full potential of computing for producing behavioral changes.