Jhdm Joyce Westerink

Virtual fitness: stimulating exercise behavior through media technology

The current paper describes research that is aimed at elucidating our understanding of media technology factors that may help users of exercise equipment to stay motivated for doing regular workouts. In particular, we investigated the effects of immersion and coaching by a virtual agent on intrinsic motivation and the sense of presence of participants cycling on a stationary home exercise bike. A basic two-by-two within-subjects experimental design was employed whereby participants were presented with a virtual racetrack with two levels of immersion (high vs. low) and two levels of a virtual coach (with vs. without). Results indicate a clear positive effect of immersion on both motivation and presence. The virtual coach significantly lowered the perceived control and pressure/tension dimensions of intrinsic motivation, but did not affect the enjoyment dimension. The presence of the virtual coach also reduced negative effects associated with VEs, such as feeling dizzy or nauseated.

Fun and Sports: Enhancing the Home Fitness Experience

The current paper describes research that is aimed to elucidate our understanding of technology factors that may help users of home exercise equipment to stay motivated for doing regular work-outs. In particular, we investigated the effects of immersion and coaching by a virtual agent on intrinsic motivation and the sense of presence of participants cycling on a stationary home exercise bike. A basic two-by-two within-subjects experimental design was employed whereby participants were presented with a virtual racetrack with two levels of immersion (high vs. low) and two levels of a virtual coach (with vs. without). Results indicate a clear positive effect of immersion on both motivation and presence. The virtual coach significantly lowered the perceived control and pressure/tension dimensions of intrinsic motivation, but did not affect the enjoyment dimension. The presence of the virtual coach also reduced negative effects associated with VEs.

How affective technologies can influence intimate interactions and improve social connectedness

Affective computing holds the promise of creating effortless, integrated, and automatic ways of communicating emotions within our intimate social network. This could augment awareness systems and connectedness devices, reducing loneliness and improving health and well-being. Through two experiments, we investigate the effects of quantity and automaticity of emotion communication on perceived intimacy in mediated settings. In the first experiment (N=48), we manipulated the number of communicated emoticons. Results show that increases in communicated emoticon quantity lead to strong increases in perceived intimacy. In the second experiment (N=34), we compare automatic and user-initiated communication of emoticons. Results show that user-initiated communication of emoticons is experienced as more intimate than automatic communication. These results are discussed in light of the interpersonal process model of intimacy and can help the design of applications aimed at improving social interactions through affective communication technology.

Evaluating the use of pictographical representations for TV menus

We address the use ofpictographic representations in an entertainment-type, domestic situation of use. In a small-scale experiment 20 sub.jects worked with two versions of a TV-guide simulation: one mainly pictographically-based, one mainly text-based. They were asked for their impressions as well as requested to f’ulfil a series of tasks covering the entire functionality of the TV-guide. Conclusions underline the necessity of some form of personalization in the user interface, and the importance of efficiency and effectiveness despite the enhanced attractiveness through enhanced graphics.

The vitality bracelet : bringing balance to your life with psychophysiological measurements

We present the concept of the Vitality Bracelet, a wrist-worn device that helps users in bringing more balance in their daily life, especially a balance between stressful and relaxing situations. On the one hand, the Vitality Bracelet comprises the measurement of your skin conductance, reflecting the current level of arousal of your autonomic nervous system. These skin conductance measurements are analyzed in real-time to give an indication of upcoming tension, but they could also be recorded and visualized to present an overview of the daily or weekly tension patterns. On the other hand, the Vitality Bracelet offers paced breathing exercises, supporting instant relaxation as well as general health and vitality on the long run. This chapter describes the design, development and a first evaluation of the Vitality Bracelet concept.