Comments on: Can we change behavior with social gaming technology? http://millionsofus.com/blog/2009/01/31/can-we-change-behavior-with-social-gaming-technology/ Social Media Agency creating movements for Brands - Millions of Us Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:23:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Henry Watson http://millionsofus.com/blog/2009/01/31/can-we-change-behavior-with-social-gaming-technology/#comment-121361 Henry Watson Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:42:03 +0000 http://millionsofus.com/blog/?p=763#comment-121361 To answer your question "Can we change behavior with social gaming technology?" I think the answer is quite likely yes, eventually. I think the introduction of popular issues into an on-line community setting in the form of a serious game could be successful. However, I think getting the formula right to achieve that success would have to take a lot of factors into account as with any game or social tool. For example, cost of devices, ease of installation, demographic of target audience, convenience, ease of use, reward for use, etc. As for the video, there are parts I really liked but also parts that didn't really make sense to me. - The idea of a smart meter driving visibility of energy consumption data to web and mobile devices is good. - Use of the virtual house as context for presenting the energy consumption details or information on areas for improvement "in location" is great. However to me, all this assumes that there must be other instrumented parts of the house that measure energy consumption at different outlets. I don't see how you could do this at a single input source on the house's main hydro meter. Unfortunately, as much as I love virtual worlds, the virtual neighborhood with houses, people, and streets etc. seemed unnecessary and unjustified in this video. At this point in time a google maps mashup to show the data would be more appropriate for everyone. Other comments that come to mind are: - what's the incentive to get the smart meter in the first place? If not mandated then we're basically preaching to the converted. - not everybody would be interested in playing a game to become greener... they'd be just as happy with a printed report - eventually people would get bored of the game or the returns on their actions would diminish - the hydro bill should be delivered in this virtual setting and perhaps even paid there to force traffic and exposure to the environment I still love the video though and think it does represent the way we should be thinking about these issues (and virtual worlds) moving forward. To answer your question “Can we change behavior with social gaming technology?” I think the answer is quite likely yes, eventually.

I think the introduction of popular issues into an on-line community setting in the form of a serious game could be successful. However, I think getting the formula right to achieve that success would have to take a lot of factors into account as with any game or social tool. For example, cost of devices, ease of installation, demographic of target audience, convenience, ease of use, reward for use, etc.

As for the video, there are parts I really liked but also parts that didn’t really make sense to me.

- The idea of a smart meter driving visibility of energy consumption data to web and mobile devices is good.
- Use of the virtual house as context for presenting the energy consumption details or information on areas for improvement “in location” is great. However to me, all this assumes that there must be other instrumented parts of the house that measure energy consumption at different outlets. I don’t see how you could do this at a single input source on the house’s main hydro meter.

Unfortunately, as much as I love virtual worlds, the virtual neighborhood with houses, people, and streets etc. seemed unnecessary and unjustified in this video. At this point in time a google maps mashup to show the data would be more appropriate for everyone.

Other comments that come to mind are:
- what’s the incentive to get the smart meter in the first place? If not mandated then we’re basically preaching to the converted.
- not everybody would be interested in playing a game to become greener… they’d be just as happy with a printed report
- eventually people would get bored of the game or the returns on their actions would diminish
- the hydro bill should be delivered in this virtual setting and perhaps even paid there to force traffic and exposure to the environment

I still love the video though and think it does represent the way we should be thinking about these issues (and virtual worlds) moving forward.

]]> By: get http://millionsofus.com/blog/2009/01/31/can-we-change-behavior-with-social-gaming-technology/#comment-121360 get Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:37:49 +0000 http://millionsofus.com/blog/?p=763#comment-121360 "the emphasis on individualism in today’s society has compounded it." i think you have this backwards...:) nothing about the execution of technology today has emphasized the individual IN a society, they call it the "singularity" meaning I AM ALL, not how does the OTHER and ME survive together. Millions of ME's is truly the grail of the tech religion today. “the emphasis on individualism in today’s society has

compounded it.”

i think you have this backwards…:)

nothing about the execution of technology today has emphasized the individual IN a society, they call it the “singularity” meaning I AM ALL, not how does the OTHER and ME survive together.

Millions of ME’s is truly the grail of the tech religion today.

]]> By: Walter Whitman http://millionsofus.com/blog/2009/01/31/can-we-change-behavior-with-social-gaming-technology/#comment-121359 Walter Whitman Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:10:39 +0000 http://millionsofus.com/blog/?p=763#comment-121359 Reuben: This is a great example of opportunities that exist for companies in today's new age of marketing. It's definitely engaging. Imagine a PG&E logo at the end. Similar videos with user challenges could be created for health food products (comparing nutrition, calories, etc.), automobile companies (comparing MPG), window and solar manufacturers, waste management companies like Norcal for recycling, ....the list goes on and on. It has huge potential as a branding and business model. Reuben: This is a great example of opportunities that exist for companies in today’s new age of marketing. It’s definitely engaging. Imagine a PG&E logo at the end. Similar videos with user challenges could be created for health food products (comparing nutrition, calories, etc.), automobile companies (comparing MPG), window and solar manufacturers, waste management companies like Norcal for recycling, ….the list goes on and on. It has huge potential as a branding and business model.

]]> By: Amy http://millionsofus.com/blog/2009/01/31/can-we-change-behavior-with-social-gaming-technology/#comment-121358 Amy Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:58:13 +0000 http://millionsofus.com/blog/?p=763#comment-121358 I agree with you. Check out this energy website from Canada. It adds a nice bit of humor. aee.gouv.qc.ca/en/energuy/game/ I agree with you. Check out this energy website from Canada. It adds a nice bit of humor. aee.gouv.qc.ca/en/energuy/game/

]]> By: Justin Gibbs http://millionsofus.com/blog/2009/01/31/can-we-change-behavior-with-social-gaming-technology/#comment-121355 Justin Gibbs Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:36:14 +0000 http://millionsofus.com/blog/?p=763#comment-121355 Reuben: Closer but it didn't exactly usher in world peace as some claimed it would. I look at this type of technology like how Hollywood looks at film, they shy away from films with heavy handed messages. It's about entertainment. Sometimes great entertainment can also educate, but when that's you're goal you usually lose the wider audience. Rewarding someone for doing the right thing in a game might be good morally but does it entertain? That's the real question. But it's possible to mix both and I look forward to that more than anybody. Reuben: Closer but it didn’t exactly usher in world peace as some claimed it would. I look at this type of technology like how Hollywood looks at film, they shy away from films with heavy handed messages. It’s about entertainment. Sometimes great entertainment can also educate, but when that’s you’re goal you usually lose the wider audience. Rewarding someone for doing the right thing in a game might be good morally but does it entertain? That’s the real question. But it’s possible to mix both and I look forward to that more than anybody.

]]> By: get http://millionsofus.com/blog/2009/01/31/can-we-change-behavior-with-social-gaming-technology/#comment-121354 get Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:50:47 +0000 http://millionsofus.com/blog/?p=763#comment-121354 20 years after the original SIM CITY and reality is the current Housing bubble crisis and Gas Prices that go up and down 10 cents a month. Real world issues are not being solved or even truly addressed by these pop digital toys. They are being "virtualized" and are following the majority of televisions lessons for the previous generation. This time with an even greater gulf between reality and fantasy. Technology only "extends" an individuals radius to affect others. The Milgram experiments were as much about technology to human interaction as they were about humans to human interaction. 20 years after the original SIM CITY and reality is the current Housing bubble crisis and Gas Prices that go up and down 10 cents a month.

Real world issues are not being solved or even truly addressed by these pop digital toys. They are being “virtualized” and are following the majority of televisions lessons for the previous generation. This time with an even greater gulf between reality and fantasy.

Technology only “extends” an individuals radius to affect others. The Milgram experiments were as much about technology to human interaction as they were about humans to human interaction.

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