ETH Zurich : Computer Science : Pervasive Computing : Distributed Systems : Education : Student Projects : Abstract

Engagement Strategies to Foster User Involvement in Energy Conservation (M)

Status: Abgeschlossen

In order to conserve energy and to change user behavior it is imperative that the functionality as well as the visualization of the feedback captivate the users. A user study has investigated and evaluated what this functionality and the style of visualization should be like. However, in order to achieve a sustainable change of the users' behavior more than just an captivating application is needed. The users have to be motivated over an extended period of time. This can be achieved by incorporating an appropriate engagement-strategy (e.g., a game, quiz or royalty scheme) into the application.

The proposed master thesis consists of two parts. In the first part, y user interface has to be developed on Windows Phone 7 and be integrated in the eMeter infrastructure. The version for Windows Phone 7 should be as close as possible to its counterparts in terms of functionality and visual appearance. The implementation of the Windows Phone 7 version serves two purposes. First it will increase the user base as more mobile phone users will be able to use the eMeter application. Moreover, it helps to gather first-hand experience in developing applications for this new mobile platform that has only been brought to market about one month ago.

In the second part, the thesis aims to examine different engagement-strategies in order to identify the one strategy that works best in the context of the eMeter application. As a first step relevant strategies from other industries will by analyzed and categorized. The applicability and implications of the identified incentive schemes / engagement strategies with respect to the eMeter project and the prototype in particular shall then be assessed by designing a survey or expert interview.