Response to Week 11

1. Persuasive technology is already a part of the technological world mostly prevalent on Facebook games.  How can we leverage the knowledge of persuasive technology to help children WANT to learn in school?

The use of games to help kids learn has been an up and coming phenomenon for the last couple of years.  These games not only keep kids interested because they are fun, but they are also specifically designed to teach children in exciting ways.  However, it seems that these games could eventually become boring to the kids, as most games do.  I think in order to leverage this technology to fully persuade children to want to learn would be to do exactly what Schell thinks is going to happen – incorporate competition.  It is important to children to be the best in their class.  However, I also think it can be hurtful to children who are at the bottom of their class to compete in such competitions, it would ruin their self-esteem.  If teachers could find some way to incorporate competition into their curriculum without making it an actual “class-competition” I truly believe that all children would benefit.  That is where Facebook comes in.  Because of Facebook, it is now possible to have competitions without feeling like you might be losing, but still have the satisfaction of winning.  The perfect solution.

2. In relation to the Ford Fusion, people obviously feel more desire to help the environment if they can physically see an impact even if it is through a digital representation.  What can we do as designers to use this information to help other necessary problems such as water consumption, the use of plastic, or waste management?

I think the problem with most people and their ability to waste so much is most don’t realize exactly how much they are wasting, or how much they are hurting the environment.  The Ford fusion idea to show the amount of gas consumption the driver is using and how they are hurting the environment is genius.  I think a good way to help people realize how much they are wasting is through a specialized trashcan.  Whether it is at home or in public, there should be a trashcan that displays a picture of a flower or tree that changes when recyclable items are thrown in it.  For example, much like the Ford Focus, the flower could wilt a bit every time plastic or paper is thrown in it.  On the other hand, the flower will grow when actual trash is thrown in.  On the same note, there could also be a public recycling bin that does the same thing, wilts when trash is thrown in it, but thrives when something is recycled.  Seeing the impact would probably make people more likely to help the environment.