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Abstract: We have been exploring how ubiquitous technology interventions can facilitate behavioural change. In particular, my research investigates how new kinds of salient information can be delivered in innovative ways, using affordable pervasive, ambient and wearable technologies, to help people make better-informed decisions in situ. Examples of behaviours include those that have been identified as problematic (e.g., well-being) or socially desirable (e.g. reducing energy consumption). Questions our approach raises include how easy and ethical is it to ‘nudge’ people in a desired direction, and how long do the changes last? In my talk, I will describe the techniques from behavioural science and social psychology that we have applied to human computer interactions in order to encourage people to change their behaviour. I will describe our ‘fast and frugal’ techniques – where we seek to provide the right kind of information in ways that does not overload people and that, can be understood in the context of their ongoing activities.
Biography: Yvonne Rogers is a Professor of Interaction Design and director of UCLIC at UCL. She is also a visiting professor at the Open University, Indiana University and Sussex University. She has spent sabbaticals at Stanford, Apple, Queensland University, and UCSD. Her research focuses on augmenting and extending everyday learning and work activities with a diversity of novel technologies. She was one of the principal investigators on the UK Equator Project (2000-2007) where she pioneered ubiquitous learning. She has published widely, beginning with her PhD work on graphical interfaces to her recent work on public visualizations and behavioural change. She has also been awarded a prestigious EPSRC dream fellowship where she will rethink the relationship between ageing, computing and creativity.