Örjan Svane
Environmental Strategies Research - fms, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
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Published in: Proceedings of the Sustaining Everyday Life Conference
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 38:13, p. 83-84
Published: 2010-11-05
ISBN:
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
Let us assume; that people could be persuaded to reduce their energy use in the home through a “dialogue” with a computer. What information; what means of persuasion could the dialogue consist of? Which is the technical hardware? Who persuades; and what about personal integrity? In this paper we explore the merging of two computer-based technologies – “smart homes” and “persuasive technology”.
There are computer programmes that persuade children to brush their teeth; and others that support regular physical exercise: Persuasive technology combines the persuasive powers of TV advertising with the computers’ interactive information handling. Smart homes technology provides residents with information and control; to keep a good indoor climate and a small energy bill. However; the merging of these two concepts has not been explored. Energy use in housing is a considerable part of society’s whole and the potentials for reduction through changes in the consumers’ habits are large. Often; dwellings’ indoor climate could become better through simple measures. There might be a conflict between low energy use and good indoor climate; but on the whole; better control can achieve both. Therefore it is worthwhile to explore how “smart homes” technology could be developed to include computerized persuasion.
Based on a “Master’s Class” at TU Eindhoven and a literature review; we discuss:
- How can households be persuaded to reduce their energy use through interaction with a computer?
- Which are the technical prerequisites?
- How much could be saved?
- What forms could the persuasive dialogue take?
- What differences in control and persuasion follow from the form of tenure?
- Which are the ethical restrictions?
We don’t assume that this kind of persuasion is by necessity a good thing. Instead; we explore the issue to enable discussion on its merits and shortcomings – in terms of environmental impacts; comfort; health; technology and consumer ethics.
Paper published in: Svane Ö. (2009) Helping; Informing or Coaxing the Consumer? – Exploring Persuasive Technology as Applied to Households’ Energy Use; Varma A 2008: Domotics: Smart Technology; Smarter Homes; ICFAI.
Svane Ö. (2009) Helping; Informing or Coaxing the Consumer? – Exploring Persuasive Technology as Applied to Households’ Energy Use; Varma A 2008: Domotics: Smart Technology; Smarter Homes; ICFAI.
