Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/9905
Title: Wellbeing in the making: peoples' experiences with wearable activity trackers
Authors: Karapanos, Evangelos 
Gouveia, Ruben 
Hassenzahl, Marc 
Forlizzi, Jodi 
metadata.dc.contributor.other: Καραπάνος, Ευάγγελος
Major Field of Science: Natural Sciences
Field Category: Computer and Information Sciences
Keywords: Personal informatics;User experience;Wearable activity trackers
Issue Date: 14-Jun-2016
Source: Psychology of Well-Being, 2016, vol. 6
Volume: 6
Journal: Psychology of Well-Bein 
Abstract: Background: Wearable activity trackers have become a viable business opportunity. Nevertheless, research has raised concerns over their potentially detrimental effects on wellbeing. For example, a recent study found that while counting steps with a pedometer increased steps taken throughout the day, at the same time it decreased the enjoyment people derived from walking. This poses a serious threat to the incorporation of healthy routines into everyday life. Most studies aim at proving the effectiveness of activity trackers. In contrast, a wellbeing-oriented perspective calls for a deeper understanding of how trackers create and mediate meaningful experiences in everyday life. Methods: We present a study of real life experiences with three wearable activity trackers: Fitbit, Jawbone Up and Nike + Fuelband. Using need fulfillment as a theoretical lens, we study recent, memorable experiences submitted by 133 users of activity trackers. Results: We reveal a two-dimensional structure of users' experience driven by the needs of physical thriving or relatedness. Our qualitative findings further show a nuanced picture of the adoption of activity trackers and their impact on wellbeing. For instance, while reflection about own exercising practices lost its relevance over time, users continued to wear the tracker to document and collect their runs. More than just supporting behavioral change, we find trackers to provide multiple psychological benefits. For instance, they enhance feelings of autonomy as people gain more control about their exercising regime. Others experience relatedness, when family members purchase a tracker for relatives and join them in their efforts towards a better, healthier self. Conclusions: The study highlights that activity trackers can be more than "tools" to change behavior. Through incorporation in daily life, they offer new social experiences, new ways of boosting our self-esteem and getting closer to our ideal selves.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/9905
ISSN: 22111522
DOI: 10.1186/s13612-016-0042-6
Rights: © Springer Nature
Type: Article
Affiliation : Cyprus University of Technology 
Universidade da Madeira 
Folkwang University of the Arts 
Carnegie Mellon University 
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed
Appears in Collections:Άρθρα/Articles

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