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Episodic Future Thinking as Digital Micro-interventions

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HCI International 2023 – Late Breaking Papers (HCII 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14054))

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Abstract

Micro-interventions are quick focused behavioural interventions aimed at matching users’ current capacity for engagement. Mobile devices are powerful, interactive, and sensor-rich platforms for delivering micro-interventions and for determining when and where to do so. This paper presents a novel smart-phone based approach to micro-interventions based on established ‘Episodic Future Thinking (EFT)’ research. The paper both presents the background for EFT-based micro-interventions and the design of an ‘EFT’ smartphone application implementing this. The approach and technology were evaluated in a feasibility study including 14 participants using the system for 14 days. Results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing EFT as micro-interventions, with participants willing to use the application, providing positive feedback and constructive suggestions. The paper concludes with a thorough discussion of the implications for smartphone-based EFT delivered as micro-interventions and how these can be used as part of a larger behaviour change and health improvement initiatives.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Average blood glucose over 2–3 months, also known as the Hemoglobin A1 test.

  2. 2.

    http://carp.cachet.dk/.

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Acknowledgements

This research is part of the iPDM-GO project [30] that has received funding from EIT Health. EIT Health is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union that receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

    Dan Roland Persson & Per Bækgaard

  2. University College London, Interaction Centre, London, UK

    Soojeong Yoo

  3. Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

    Jakob E. Bardram

  4. Institute of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Timothy C. Skinner

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  1. Dan Roland Persson
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  2. Soojeong Yoo
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  3. Jakob E. Bardram
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  4. Timothy C. Skinner
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  5. Per Bækgaard
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dan Roland Persson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Open University of Japan, Chiba, Japan

    Masaaki Kurosu

  2. Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan

    Ayako Hashizume

  3. Aaron Marcus and Associates, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Aaron Marcus

  4. World Usability Day and Bubble Mountain Consulting, Newton Center, MA, USA

    Elizabeth Rosenzweig

  5. Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China

    Marcelo M. Soares

  6. Coventry University, Coventry, UK

    Don Harris

  7. Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK

    Wen-Chin Li

  8. Soar Technology Inc., Orlando, FL, USA

    Dylan D. Schmorrow

  9. Katmai Government Services, Orlando, FL, USA

    Cali M. Fidopiastis

  10. Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Pei-Luen Patrick Rau

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Persson, D.R., Yoo, S., Bardram, J.E., Skinner, T.C., Bækgaard, P. (2023). Episodic Future Thinking as Digital Micro-interventions. In: Kurosu, M., et al. HCI International 2023 – Late Breaking Papers. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14054. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48038-6_14

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