Well-being by Formula? Exploring the Role of Somaesthetics in Making Self-tracking More Sustainable

New Media Research Centre, Sun Yat-sen University Nanfang College, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510970, China

^* Corresponding author: manzhao_zm@outlook.com

Abstract

Self-tracking, a phenomenon which dataify individuals’ daily activities and experiences, presents both opportunities and challenges to understand which factors and in what ways may influence individuals’ health status or well-being. Technology can enhance the era of personal happiness and increase social well-being. We hope to provide a design principle and operational design method to promote the well-being consideration of self-tracking products and technologies. In order to propose such principles and methods, it is necessary to first analyze the key factors of happiness in using self-tracking products. This article proposes “The Self-tracking Sustainability Formula”, which includes three elements as information, well-being drives, and material. Such a formula could possibly conceptually explain the components of a self-tracking product with sustainable potential. On this basis, this paper further explores how self-tracking products can positively influence issues such as environmental protection, personnel management, and friendly social relations from the dimensions of “information” and “well-being drives” to form more sustainable. Production and consumption ecology. This paper argues that, in order to enhance such a process of sustainable well-being, we as user researchers and product designers must design better ways of visualizing and interacting with “datafied well-being”. From the citations of dashboards, we draw upon both the principles of Somaesthetics to propose an “avatar” as the central interface component. An avatar, or a humanized animal image, is proposed to provide a more intuitive understanding of one’s physical, emotional, and social well-being, looking forward to helping self-tracking products become more sustainable by considering sustainable design principles and forms in the design process and motivating users to be more willing to accept sustainability Self-tracking products.