research-article

Fostering user engagement: improving sense of identity through cosmetic customization in wearable trackers

Authors:

Pratik Agarwal,

Eun Kyoung ChoeAuthors Info & Claims

PervasiveHealth '17: Proceedings of the 11th EAI International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare

Pages 11 - 20

https://doi.org/10.1145/3154862.3154878

Published: 23 May 2017 Publication History

Abstract

Despite numerous health advantages wearable health trackers could offer, tracker users often abandon their devices after a short period of time. One reason for abandonment is users' lack of identification of their trackers as an accurate reflection of who and what they are (i.e., sense of identity). In this study, we examine the role of cosmetic customization (i.e., a modification of a given product's presentation) of a wearable health tracker in increasing one's sense of identity. Furthermore, we explore if one's sense of identity can explain the relationship between cosmetic customization and user engagement (assessed by attitude, exercise intention, and sense of attachment) with a wearable tracker. We conducted a between-subjects online experiment and found that individuals presented with a high level of cosmetic customization features experienced a higher sense of identity with a wearable health tracker, which in turn was associated with more favorable attitude, higher exercise intention, and greater sense of attachment towards the tracker than individuals presented with a low level of cosmetic customization features. Based on the study results, we recommend the designers of wearable health trackers to provide users with salient and recognizable cosmetic customization features so that users can establish a good "identity fit" with their tracker.

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Cited By

Wang YLi MKim YLee BDanilovich MLazar AConroy DKacorri HChoe E(2024)Redefining Activity Tracking Through Older Adults' Reflections on Meaningful ActivitiesProceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642170(1-15)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642170
Choma EHayes SLewis BRothman AWyman JGuan WMcMahon S(2023)Technical Assistance Received by Older Adults to Use Commercially Available Physical Activity Monitors (Ready Steady 3.0 Trial): Ad-Hoc Descriptive Longitudinal StudyJMIR mHealth and uHealth10.2196/4789111(e47891-e47891)Online publication date: 22-Nov-2023
https://doi.org/10.2196/47891
LACROIX DWullenkord REyssel FCastellano GRiek LCakmak MLeite I(2023)Who's in Charge?Companion of the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction10.1145/3568294.3580152(580-586)Online publication date: 13-Mar-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3568294.3580152
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cover image ACM Other conferences

PervasiveHealth '17: Proceedings of the 11th EAI International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare

May 2017

503 pages

ISBN:9781450363631

DOI:10.1145/3154862

General Chairs:
Nuria Oliver
Vodafone, Data-Pop Alliance
,
Mary Czerwinski
Visualization and Interaction (VIBE) Research Group

Copyright © 2017 ACM.

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Publication History

Published: 23 May 2017

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PervasiveHealth '17

PervasiveHealth '17: 11th EAI International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare

May 23 - 26, 2017

Barcelona, Spain

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Overall Acceptance Rate 55 of 116 submissions, 47%

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Cited By

Wang YLi MKim YLee BDanilovich MLazar AConroy DKacorri HChoe E(2024)Redefining Activity Tracking Through Older Adults' Reflections on Meaningful ActivitiesProceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642170(1-15)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642170
Choma EHayes SLewis BRothman AWyman JGuan WMcMahon S(2023)Technical Assistance Received by Older Adults to Use Commercially Available Physical Activity Monitors (Ready Steady 3.0 Trial): Ad-Hoc Descriptive Longitudinal StudyJMIR mHealth and uHealth10.2196/4789111(e47891-e47891)Online publication date: 22-Nov-2023
https://doi.org/10.2196/47891
LACROIX DWullenkord REyssel FCastellano GRiek LCakmak MLeite I(2023)Who's in Charge?Companion of the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction10.1145/3568294.3580152(580-586)Online publication date: 13-Mar-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3568294.3580152
Molina MZhan EAgnihotri DAbdullah SDeka P(2023)Motivation to Use Fitness Application for Improving Physical Activity Among Hispanic Users: The Pivotal Role of Interactivity and RelatednessProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3581200(1-13)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3581200
Gouveia REpstein D(2023)This Watchface Fits with my Tattoos: Investigating Customisation Needs and Preferences in Personal TrackingProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3580955(1-15)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3580955
Choi KElHaouij NLee JPicard RIshii H(2022)Design and Evaluation of a Clippable and Personalizable Pneumatic-haptic Feedback Device for Breathing GuidanceProceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies10.1145/35172346:1(1-36)Online publication date: 29-Mar-2022
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Fronczek LMende MScott MNenkov GGustafsson A(2022)Friend or foe? Can anthropomorphizing self-tracking devices backfire on marketers and consumers?Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science10.1007/s11747-022-00915-151:5(1075-1097)Online publication date: 24-Dec-2022
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Wang JSundar S(2021)Are We More Reactive to Persuasive Health Messages When They Appear in Our Customized Interfaces? The Role of Sense of Identity and Sense of ControlHealth Communication10.1080/10410236.2021.188577237:8(1022-1030)Online publication date: 17-Feb-2021
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Zhou XKrishnan ADincelli E(2021)Examining user engagement and use of fitness tracking technology through the lens of technology affordancesBehaviour & Information Technology10.1080/0144929X.2021.191538341:9(2018-2033)Online publication date: 17-Apr-2021
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Choe EKlasnja PPratt W(2021)mHealth and ApplicationsBiomedical Informatics10.1007/978-3-030-58721-5_19(637-666)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2021
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