PerKApp: A general purpose persuasion architecture for healthy lifestyles

J Biomed Inform. 2018 Jun:82:70-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2018.04.010. Epub 2018 May 2.

Abstract

Automatically monitoring and supporting healthy lifestyle is a recent research trend, fostered by the availability of low-cost monitoring devices, and it can significantly contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases deriving from incorrect diet and lack of physical activity. In this paper, we present a general purpose architecture for persuasion scenarios and behavioral change. The architecture is designed to be easily portable across languages and domains and has been implemented and evaluated in a specific system for Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) called PerKApp. PerKApp provides a fully fledged platform supporting the remote monitoring of workers lifestyle by providing real-time feedback through persuasive context-based messages when necessary.

Keywords: Automatic message generation; Challenges in persuasion technologies; Knowledge-based system; Persuasive system; Real-world application; Workplace health promotion.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Biomedical Technology
  • Chronic Disease / prevention & control
  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Healthy Lifestyle*
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Medical Informatics / methods
  • Motivation
  • Persuasive Communication*
  • Semantics
  • Software*
  • Workplace