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.

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
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3. Because of 3 Improvements…
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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4. 1. More sensing technologies
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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5. 2. Ubiquitous access to data
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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6. 3. Visualizations for laypeople
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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7. But self-tracking is still hard.
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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8. What makes self-tracking hard?
PREPARATION COLLECTION INTEGRATION REFLECTION ACTION
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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9. Opportunities for
design & technology
To provide appropriate
and necessary support
to users
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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10. 2 Approaches
1. Holistic
2. Human-Centered
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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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
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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
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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
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14. Interviews
Field studies
User experience
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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15. Thanks!
ianli@cmu.edu
http://ianli.com
http://personalinformatics.org
Ian Li IFTF HH 2010 Towards Making Better Self-Tracking Tools
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