1/20/2024 0 Comments Need to quit selfcontrol app![]() ![]() Implementing persuasive applications is a fraught with challenges, particularly for contexts such as alcohol intake, where real-time monitoring can be difficult.īut there is great potential to use mobile technology to promote positive alcohol behavioural change, particularly if the apps follow certain design features. A number of users also stated the importance of sharing their progress on social media. This allows them to attain positive milestones on each step of the behavioural change process. We noticed that a number of users preferred apps that provided incremental targets. We found that a key design guideline for these apps is the ability to customise the way users interact with them. Users not only preferred gradual notifications from the apps but they also wished to have full control over how the app interacted with them. Our results showed that users preferred self-control apps, possibly because they did not want to be controlled by an app that was too insistent or fast in its interaction. Self-control apps do not explicitly inform the user when their alcohol intake crosses a level of high risk. Self-control apps mostly rely on users to monitor and manage their intake by providing information, such as blood alcohol concentration levels. Step Away app highlights the usage of warnings as a persuasive strategy - an example of a motivational app. This motivated us to analyse more than 200 user reviews of apps available on the iTunes store so we could better establish design recommendations for such apps. There are some online rankings of alcohol control apps, but these are not maintained by official health services. But there is no government or other reputable organisation that maintains a similar list in Australia. The National Health Service in the UK does provide a list of apps that can assist in tackling health related problems. While mobile apps may be best suited to tackle drinking problems there isn’t much of an understanding as to which are more suitable or what features people prefer. But web-based applications usually cannot be accessed at a user’s own discretion as they require some form of synchronisation with the user’s phone. There are a number of web and mobile applications that help people with their alcohol intake. There is growing realisation of the importance of persuasive technology in mitigating the harmful side effects of alcohol and other bad habits. ![]() Such technologies have already helped with other problems, such as obesity, bullying and racism by motivating people, providing knowledge, supporting decision making and ultimately facilitating behaviour change. This is known as persuasive technology, a term originally coined by Stanford University researcher BJ Fogg. In this way technology can facilitate a change in behaviour through persuasion but not coercion. ![]() Such mediated, anonymous and indirect interaction can also help people suffering from a drinking problem who are otherwise reluctant to visit rehabilitation and facility centres. Popular alcohol control apps include examples such as Stop Drinking with Andrew Johnson (for Apple or Android) which relies on relaxation and hypnotism and other apps which simply count the intake of alcohol ( Sobriety Counter is one such app for Android). They allow people to get the right information at the right time regarding their drinking habits. Smartphone apps can provide real-time intervention on the go. When it comes to overcoming bad behavioural habits, such as drinking too much, technology can help by providing a subtle and more personalised solution to the problem. ![]() But there might be another way to tackle the problems related to the over-consumption of alcohol that doesn’t require large-scale government intervention. ![]()
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