Using extensive data in design and evaluation of BCSS

The International Workshop on Behavior Change Support Systems provides a place to discuss recent advances in BCSS research. The aim of this year’s workshop was to discuss and share examples and experiences from research on BCSSs regarding both the evaluation and improvement of these systems, as the systems use more and more types of data over longer periods of time. Fitting the multidisciplinary character of the workshop, a wide variety of topics was presented in which the use of extensive data plays a role: occupational health, diet and healthy foods, persuasive dialogues related to food intake, entertainment for people with disabilities, and telemonitoring of heart failure patients. Group discussions focused on two key aspects related to the use of more extensive data: approaches to encourage transparency of the use of data to prevent `black-box thinking’, and pointing out a strategy for data driven coaching over longer periods of time.