New Nudge Technology Prods You To Take Action 61
HughPickens.com writes Natasha Singer reports at the NYT on a new generation of devices whose primary function is to prod people to change. This new category of nudging technology includes "hydration reminder" apps like Waterlogged that exhort people to increase their water consumption; the HAPIfork, a utensil that vibrates and turns on a light indicator when people eat too quickly; and Thync, "neurosignaling" headgear that delivers electrical pulses intended to energize or relax people. "There is this dumbing-down, which assumes people do not want the data, they just want the devices to help them," says Natasha Dow Schüll. "It is not really about self-knowledge anymore. It's the nurselike application of technology." While some self-zapping gizmos may resemble human cattle prods, other devices use more complex cues to encourage people to adopt new behavior. For example, the Muse, a brain-wave monitoring headband, is intended to help people understand their state of mind by playing different sounds depending on whether they are distracted or calm. "Based on what it registers, it plays loud, disruptive wind or waves lapping or, if you are supercalm and you maintain it for a while, you get calm, lovely noises of birds tweeting," says Schüll. "You do learn to calm your mind.
But do the new self-tracking and self-improvement technologies benefit people or just create more anxiety? An article published in The BMJ, a British medical journal, describes healthy people who use self-tracking apps as "young, asymptomatic, middle-class neurotics continuously monitoring their vital signs while they sleep." Dr. Des Spence argues that many health tracking apps encouraged healthy people to unnecessarily record their normal activities and vital signs — turning users into continuously self-monitoring "neurotics." Spence recommends people view these new technologies with skepticism. "The truth is that these apps and devices are untested and unscientific, and they will open the door of uncertainty," says Spence. "Make no mistake: Diagnostic uncertainty ignites extreme anxiety in people."
But do the new self-tracking and self-improvement technologies benefit people or just create more anxiety? An article published in The BMJ, a British medical journal, describes healthy people who use self-tracking apps as "young, asymptomatic, middle-class neurotics continuously monitoring their vital signs while they sleep." Dr. Des Spence argues that many health tracking apps encouraged healthy people to unnecessarily record their normal activities and vital signs — turning users into continuously self-monitoring "neurotics." Spence recommends people view these new technologies with skepticism. "The truth is that these apps and devices are untested and unscientific, and they will open the door of uncertainty," says Spence. "Make no mistake: Diagnostic uncertainty ignites extreme anxiety in people."
Walking advertisements (Score:2)
You aren't drinking enough water - Get some Aquafina!
Your blood sugar is low - Stop by Dunkin Donuts and get a dozen!
You're not sleeping well - Try some Tylenol PM and you'll sleep well tonight!
And so on...
It even rhymes (Score:5, Funny)
Electrolytes low? Get Brawndo!
Re: It even rhymes (Score:1)
It's got what plants crave!
Re: (Score:1)
You don't need water reminders for daily life, nor do you need a water bottle. Nor, for the most part, water.
You get more or less enough from your food alone. "You need to keep hydrated" is a fraud along the lines of valentine's day stuff -- a complete creation of companies.
Hehe. You pay twice what you pay for pop...for water.
Re: (Score:3)
I went on low carbohydrate food regimen over two years ago and my need for water dropped to almost nothing. I drink some coffee in the morning and maybe a glass of water in the evening. Probably much of this thirst is due to people suffering from diabetes or are pre-diabetic.
Re: (Score:1)
...only until they start using a cattle prod...
Unless you are into that sort of thing...
Uncertainty (Score:5, Funny)
I am uncertain of his diagnosis of people in this case, and thinking about that is causing me extreme anxiety. Thanks a lot, Spence!
Dreamers (Score:2)
Purchase something that nags me? What are these people smoking?
Re: (Score:2)
It is actually not a bad idea at all. I suffer from a lack of motivation, so nagging can be really a help when I know I really need to do something.
Re: (Score:2)
A market there will be (Score:4, Insightful)
We make pledges and promises to better ourselves because we recognize at times, we are our own worst enemy... but we regularly fail at self betterment.
Unfortunately, it's not difficult at all to win a debate with one's self over whether you deserve that pastry, beverage or morning free of exercise.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not difficult at all to win a debate with one's self over whether you deserve that pastry
Often, there isn't even a debate. That's even easier.
Re: (Score:1)
Watch this: How to stop screwing yourself over [youtube.com] (Mel Robbins).
For habit-building, gold stars on a calendar can work surprisingly well. (I use an Android app called Routinely.)
Finally /r/GetMotivated [reddit.com] has the occasional gem that's worth reading.
Re: (Score:2)
gold stars on a calendar can work surprisingly well.
If you're seven.
Nothing new (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Sure dad, whatever you say.
Gimmicks ... (Score:3)
This is gimmicks, toys, and other crap ... mostly designed to sell analytics to corporations ... utterlly lacking in scientific merit, and serving no real purpose.
"young, asymptomatic, middle-class neurotics continuously monitoring their vital signs while they sleep."
Indeed. Pointless solutions to first world problems.
No thanks, put down your phone and get out and do something.
Re: (Score:2)
Nudge (Score:3)
Nudge Nudge
Wink wink
Say no more
Hydration reminder (Score:3)
Comes built-in. It's called "thirst"
Re: (Score:1)
Comes built-in. It's called "thirst"
So does the "Eating too quickly" reminder. That one is called "choking on your food"
These "solutions" all seem to be moving away from the idea of being aware of yourself. A cheaper, and more beneficial solution would due to take up a program of meditation.
Re: (Score:2)
My body doesn't really understand thirst. I can go all day with not a droplet of ingested water and then all of a sudden realize I'm parched. But I'm fairly sure I would ignore them warnings anyway.
Re: (Score:2)
I've discovered recently that I've been mistaking thirst for hunger. So now when I think I'm hungry I have a glass of water and wait a half an hour, then if I'm still hungry I eat something. It's pretty amazing, about 3 out of 4 times I'm thirsty, not hungry. Go figure.
Re: (Score:2)
> It's called "thirst"
Is that a new app? Where can I get that?
Re: (Score:1)
If it was a new app, it would have to be called Therst, Thyrst, or Thrst.
Re: (Score:2)
Bah. It needs to be called Thürst or nobody will take it seriously.
Re: (Score:3)
If it was a new app, it would have to be called Therst, Thyrst, or Thrst.
Seems to me that, at least on /. , it needs to be called "Thrist."
Re: (Score:2)
iThrst?
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly. And there's no evidence that drinking more than that has any benefit whatsoever.
http://www.reuters.com/article... [reuters.com]
If the needle goes beyond here, you will be fired (Score:3)
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
We have as a society been conditioned to respond to stimulae.
What else would we respond to?
Good grief (Score:2)
What next? An app to remind you when to eat? Or when to take a dump and how to wipe your arse afterwards?
Wait, no, pretend you didn't hear that last one. That's my new project.
Mind you, I can't really talk. I appear to have a faulty sense of thirst. I can tell whether or not I'm thirsty, but only if I think about it, and even if I am it doesn't give me a great urge to drink. I've got into a routine of finishing off a bottle of water every day (and all without any reminders from my phone!), but before then I
Re: (Score:2)
I saw this yesterday: It proves to me [buzzfeed.com] that people really are getting stupider at an alarming rate and that the internet as we once knew it is done for. We might as well just pack it all up and go home, boys.
Re: (Score:2)
No thanks (Score:5, Funny)
I was married for 20 years. If I want to be nagged again I'll go find another wife...
small comfort (Score:1)
How about this? (Score:2)
Re:How about this? (Score:5, Funny)
How about something that prods me to stop reading /. all the time?
Can I interest you in slashdot beta?
I downloaded one of these nudge apps (Score:1)
It kept asking me if my wife was a "goer."
Re: (Score:2)
That's what happens when you are a man of the world.
nudge. (Score:1)
Alert Fatigue (Score:2)
Unscientific (Score:2)
Diagnostic uncertainty ignites extreme anxiety in people
This is unscientific against unscientific: where are the studies showing these device cause anxiety?