Holistic & Human-Centered: Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools, Ian Li, IFTF HH 2010
In this talk, I present that making better self-tracking tools requires using a holistic and human-centered approach at design and development. Self-tracking tools have been increasing because of 3 technological improvements: better sensors, ubiquitous data access, and improved visualizations. Despite the new technologies, self-tracking remains hard. This is because self-tracking requires a lot from the user: from collecting, organizing, reflecting on data and to putting new knowledge into action. The self-tracking challenge presents design and technology with great opportunities. Forging ahead, I think development of self-tracking tools should be approached in two ways: 1. It has to be approached holistically. Provide support for all the things that the user has to do with the system. This is specially important because self-tracking requires long-term use. 2. A human-centered approach has be taken. The technology has been growing a lot and that's great. The question now is how do these different technologies go together to support the knowledge discover new insights into their selves.
Holistic & Human-Centered: Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools, Ian Li, IFTF HH 2010
- 1. Holistic & Human-Centered
 Towards Making Better
 Self-Tracking Tools Ian Li Human-Computer Interaction Institute Carnegie Mellon University Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
- 2. Self-tracking is growing. Physical Activity Diabetes Health Mood http://personalinformatics.org/tools Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 2
- 3. Because of 3 Improvements… Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 3
- 4. 1. More sensing technologies Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 4
- 5. 2. Ubiquitous access to data Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 5
- 6. 3. Visualizations for laypeople Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 6
- 7. But self-tracking is still hard. Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 7
- 8. What makes self-tracking hard? PREPARATION COLLECTION INTEGRATION REFLECTION ACTION Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 8
- 9. Opportunities for
 design & technology To provide appropriate
 and necessary support
 to users Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 9
- 10. 2 Approaches 1. Holistic
 2. Human-Centered Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 10
- 11. 1. Holistic Design the system as a whole. Identify problems that people encounter throughout the whole system. Find good combinations of system support
 to collecting and reflecting on data. Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 11
- 12. Embedded / wearable Mobile / desktop Automated / manual Visualizations? Input once a day Real-time / End-of-day Incentives? Daily / weekly reflection PREPARATION COLLECTION INTEGRATION REFLECTION ACTION Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 12
- 13. 2. Human-Centered What information should a person collect? What problems do users encounter with the system? How does the person gain self-knowledge from the data they collect? Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 13
- 14. Interviews Field studies User experience Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 14
- 15. Thanks! ianli@cmu.edu http://ianli.com
 http://personalinformatics.org Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools 15