Persuasive Technology

Persuasive Technologies (PTs) are purposefully designed to motivate people towards beneficial behaviours, for example, exercising, eating healthily, saving energy, or dealing with depression. However, to be really effective, PTs need to be personalized to an individual. The proposed research leverages the increasing integration and penetration of technologies (such as mobile phones) into our lives to design personalized PTs that would empower and motivate people to achieve goals that are important to them and their communities. The research results will improve the lives of Canadians by targeting problem domains (safety/security, health/wellness) and diverse audiences including at-risk Canadian youths and under-served populations.