Persuading Physical Activity Engagement with a Behavior Modification Sensor System

The use of computing technologies to persuade behavior change has been an active research domain in recent years; yet, the question of the impact of persuasive messages generated from an understanding of a person’s daily living pattern from wake through sleep remains unanswered. This paper describes a recently completed study of a behavior modification sensor system that was developed and embedded in the home of an elderly Hispanic female. The developed information system supported real-time user monitoring of physical activity and in-home living activity for the purpose of building “information rich” persuasive-based messages intended to promote behavior change in daily physical activity and not linked to a sportsbased activity. Initial findings from a three month exploratory study posit that understanding and using a person’s daily living pattern can support more “information rich” and stronger persuasive messages and improve physical activity within the message recipient.