Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Discussion of User Studies
In this section, we present insights from the user studies and discuss the presence of
competition facilitated by technology. We analyzed the data from the conducted
interviews, and through extensive brainstorm sessions, using notes and sketching, we
derived at two qualities that are enhanced by RBH: Relations and motivation. RBH
gives practitioners the opportunity to interact and compete through biometric data in a
setting and situation, where direct interaction has not been possible previously, and
the two proposed qualities aim to capture the outcome of this new opportunity.
However, by introducing competition in a non-competitive physical setting, we also
encountered two challenges: Exasperation and Discouragement. These challenges
should be addressed in future creations of competitive training systems based on
biometric feedback. Lastly, as introducing RBH at indoor cycling classes showed
substantial qualities and important challenges, we discuss how technology can be
used to facilitate and modify competition and how this affects the exercise.
5.1
Qualities: Relation and Motivation
We discovered that in regular indoor cycling classes the majority of the participants
tried to relate to other indoor cyclists, which is difficult to do. They look at facial
expression, sweat, and cadence of the other practitioners, as ways to relate. However,
the participants also pointed out that this only provided them with vague hints of how
the other practitioners where doing, since they had no means to objectively compare
their efforts. With the introduction of RBH, the participants were given an instrument
for creating a closer relation to each other, which ultimately affected their
performance. For instance, one participant said: “It gives an insight on whether you
are falling behind, because you can see that others are struggling as well”, and another
said: ”If you can see the others relaxing, you can do it yourself as well”, supported by
a third participant: “If the others are relaxing, you think 'I can give it more', and then
you beat them”.
The statements indicate that participants utilize the opportunity, provided by RBH,
to relate to each other during indoor cycling sessions. The participants were
constantly using the biometric data; as a frame of reference for physiological
empathy, an excuse for relaxing, or as a reason to increase the effort. Thus, RBH
possibly strengthen social relations between users, which is remarked upon as a strong
motivational factor for gym-goers [2].
All participants indicated that they were influenced by the other participants'
biometric data with statements such as: “At some point I was in the bottom of the list
and 10% after the nearest [participant], and when I realized it, I instantly pushed
myself harder to get to the same intensity level”. The simple dynamical ranking of
users in RBH, seemed to work as a game mechanism, where being in the top was the
most desirable and being in the bottom was undesirable, exemplified by remarks such
as, “He [the instructor] said to ride in single pace, but I could see that you both were
going faster, so I refused to be down there [the bottom of the list]”, and, “You give a
little extra to keep it [the position in the list] when you are finally op there [the top of
the list]”.
