Challenges of quantified-Self: Encouraging self-Reported data logging during recurrent smartphone usage

Abstract

We argue that improved data entry can motivate Quantified-Self (QS) users to better engage with QS applications. To improve data entry, we investigate the notion of transforming active smartphone usage into data logging contributions through alert dialogs. We evaluate this assertion in a 4-week long deployment with 48 participants. We collect 17,906 data entries, where 68.3% of the entries are reported using the alert dialogs. We demonstrate that QS applications can benefit from alert dialogs: to increase data precision, frequency, and reduce the probability of forgetfulness in data logging. We investigate the impact of usage session type (e.g., sessions with different goals or durations) and the assigned reminder delay on frequency of data contributions. We conclude with insights gathered from our investigation, and the implications they have on future designs.