I
direct research and design at Stanford University's Persuasive
Technology Lab. Our purpose is to create insight into how computing products--from websites to mobile phone software--can be designed to change people's beliefs and behaviors.
I started investigating computers and persuasion in 1993 and later realized this topic had no name, so I gave it one: captology.
Our lab's major projects include mobile persuasion, the pscyhology of Facebook, and peace technology. (You'll find a bit more on those topics below.) Our other projects include online
credibility, ethics of persuasion, and operant conditioning via computing systems.
Our lab's primary focus today is investigating how mobile phones can be platforms for persuasion. Early in 2007 our lab organized the first
Mobile Persuasion conference. Over 280 people attended. We then put together a new book entitled Mobile Persuasion: 20 Perspectives on the Future of Behavior Change. This book has short, insightful chapters from over 20 authors.
We're also studying the psychology of Facebook -- what makes it compelling, what persuades people to install new apps, and what motivates them to continue using the service. As part of this project in Fall 2007 I created and taught a new course about Facebook apps (with Dave McClure).
Our third focus is what we call "peace technology." We're investigating how technology can help change attitudes and behaviors in ways that bring about global harmony. We know this is an idealistic project, and we may fail. But given the state of the world, choosing not to pursue this line of research would be irrational.
In all our work we seek to share what we learn broadly, often in nonacademic venues. But we also do the academic thing with journals and conferences.
Our lab organized the 2007 International Conference on Persuasive Technology. This event brought together leading researchers and practitioners from around the world to Stanford, the place where the study of persuasive technology began in 1993. The 2008 Persuasive Technology Conference will be in Europe, with Finland as the host.
My lab is located at Stanford's Center
for the Study of Language and Information and affiliated with
Media-X. My lab team includes 12 people from diverse backgrounds. We meet every Thursday evening.
