Opportunities for Persuasive Technology to Motivate Heavy Computer Users for Stretching Exercise

Reducing the negative effects of extended computer use is becoming increasingly important and it has been demonstrated that appropriate stretching yields benefits. We investigated the opportunities of motivating heavy computer users to stretch by incorporating mobile and sensing technologies into a 1-on-1 social competition game. We implemented the "Social Persuasion System for Stretching" SP-Stretch and conducted a 4-week study with 25 heavy computer users. Based on the quantitative and qualitative results, we identify a number of design considerations, and provide suggestions for future research.