Matthew Louis Ayoob
19 March 2023
CS247B Final Reflection
Word Count: 1,075
To preface this, I would love to become a CS247B CA next year as I will be a masters student, loved the course, and excitedly engaged with the content. This is my second class of Christina’s (Social Computing before this), and I also will be in Game Design and independent study with her next quarter.
Before this class, I thought that using applications for behavior change was merely a marketing approach. However, from a high level, I have come to learn that human computer interaction can be used to create positive behavior change quite effectively, and conversely, it can enable and encourage unhealthy behaviors.
I loved that we were randomly assigned teams to work with for the primary chunk of the quarter. Putting the onus on students to create teams can be stressful and make the class very dependent on who you have teamed up with / who comes in with a team; therefore, it was really nice bonding and exploring my working style with a new group of fellow Stanford kids. Hate is such a strong word, I don’t think I hated anything. I think the flexibility was so beautiful, yet dangerous. The freedom of late days / 24 hour grace period was such a pleasant student experience, yet sometimes I became too comfortable with the late deadline and felt behind when I came to class, but that was my own doing.
For tools and methods, I feel confident that I will use all the methodology we learned again. I really liked the mapping tools we learned for organizing our thoughts, brainstorming, etc, and I think I will implement them in my professional and personal life. A tool I would like to gain more skill with is Figma. It is such a powerful tool that I want to feel comfortable with in my career and ideation processes.
A pleasant surprise I encountered was just how proud of my team’s Figma I was. The scrolling and interactive elements really went the extra mile, so I was so proud of my team’s sustained effort over the past few weeks, finishing strong.
For something I wish that went differently, I think the promptness of the class was very variable. If I was very on time, I would be slightly disappointed if the activity quality and planned content for the class was affected if my peers were late. However, I was so happy the class had an understanding policy when something happened to me in the morning. It is definitely a double-edged sword.
I felt that the work I did in 247B was a great complement to my other HCI coursework and breadth. This was a nice extension of CS147 by diving more into design iteration and the creative process without the stress of implementing the React application fully. It was also nice to ground concepts I was learning in CS347 simultaneously with actual implementation and design questions alongside talking about the content in discussion platforms (347 section).
For a proposed redesign of our project, I think our prototype has a DS game feel, or a bit of an aged aesthetic that makes it feel more 2010 as opposed to the 2020s. I think we may be using too many accent colors; however, I think this approach also gives the prototype a very nostalgic and fun feel.
Ethical considerations
The primary behavior change mechanism employed by the app is push notifications that provide users with information on nearby check-in spots. These notifications serve as nudges, aiming to influence user behavior in a non-intrusive manner by encouraging them to explore their surroundings. The nudges are considered acceptable due to their infrequent nature and specific purpose.
However, it is crucial to consider potential manipulative effects of the nudges, which can arise if the app sends notifications too frequently or at inappropriate times. In such cases, the nudges could become intrusive and result in negative user experiences. Additionally, if the app employs persuasive techniques or incentives to influence user behavior, it may cross the line into manipulation, which can undermine users’ autonomy and trust.
Therefore, it is important to design the nudging mechanism in a way that respects users’ autonomy and provides them with control over their interactions with the app. The app allows users to customize notification settings and choose when and how frequently they receive nudges. The nudges should also rely on information and recommendations rather than incentives, to promote positive behavior change without undermining users’ autonomy. Overall, the app’s nudging mechanism can be a valuable tool for promoting behavior change in HCI design. By employing nudges that are informative, respectful, and supportive of user autonomy, the app can provide users with positive experiences and enhance their engagement with the platform.
To address our project in the scope of week four’s privacy conversations, Outventure does not share your specific location information with friends or anyone on the app. The photo is purely posted at a check-in spot, without giving any other users an intuition of your daily routine, lodging location, frequent spots, or other sensitive information. We abstracted away this information, so more people can safely engage with the application.
Taking CS247B has led to a significant shift in my understanding of how technology can impact and shape human behavior. Throughout the class, I gained a deeper appreciation for the potential of technology to facilitate and encourage positive behavior change in various domains such as healthcare, education, and sustainability.
Additionally, I have developed a greater awareness of the ethical implications of using technology to influence behavior, emphasizing the need for inclusive design practices to ensure that technology does not unintentionally exacerbate social disparities like ableism or sexism. Overall, this class has broadened my perspective on the role of technology in shaping human behavior and has equipped me with valuable skills and knowledge, including inclusive design implications that can be applied to create more equitable and accessible technologies. 🙂
For taking my experiences with me to future opportunities, this class will be beneficial in the upcoming game design class as well. This class has provided me with valuable insights and skills that are directly applicable to game design, particularly in the context of designing games that encourage positive behavior change. I have learned about the theories and models of behavior change, how to design effective interventions for behavior change, and the importance of considering ethical implications and inclusivity in design.
Thanks for a great quarter!
