A Roadmap for Activated Motivation in HCI

Abstract

Everyday, millions of people use technologies like their fitbit, smartwatch, or smartphone for self\--improve\-ment. These devices and their associated apps have become both inexpensive and pervasive; they monitor our shopping habits, physical activity, and ecological footprint and visualize that data to help us reflect on our limitations, to set and make progress towards goals, and recognize achievements. The potential impacts of these technologies are immense; to improve our finances, to educate ourselves and develop new skills, and to improve our health and the health of our planet. However, research has cast doubt on their effectiveness \cite{Cho2021, Rapp2019, Zimmerman2021, JOHNSON2016}. That is, people tend to lose motivation for self-improvement over time, and ultimately fail to meet their personal goals. To address these shortcomings, I will explore how we can use established theories of human motivation to develop novel technologies that motivate change, to provoke self-reflection and persistence, and to promote our health and well-being.