Avatar interfaces for biobehavioral feedback

The combination of inexpensive wearable sensors, powerful mobile phones, and always-connected cloud computing are enabling new, real-time feedback and coaching via mobile technologies. This paper explores the use of avatars - digital representations of the self - as an ideal user interface for mobile health application. Specifically, a justification for using avatars is provided, both based on empirical studies and the psychology of human body interpretation. We then provide an organized, theoretical description of how an avatar's traits (appearance, behavior, and virtual environment) can be manipulated to convey specific health-related behavior change messages.