"Biographic spaces": A personalized smoking cessation intervention in second life

Abstract

In this paper we are proposing a proof-of-concept leveraging the use of 3D virtual worlds in addictive behavior interventions. We propose a model that we call biographic space, which embeds the successive stages that a smoker may go through while attempting to quit smoking including emotionally loaded aspects such as deciding to quit and post cessation withdrawal. The design of this space is informed by storytelling and explores the rich media affordance of virtual environments. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.