Short answer
Design self-tracking applications with built-in social functionalities that enable users to connect, compare, and share their data-driven insights with others.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Interaction design & architecture(s)/ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s) (2016)
- Method
- Qualitative research, including case studies and analysis of user practices.
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Designers should move beyond individualistic self-tracking tools to create platforms that facilitate social connection and communication through shared data. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2016 study published in Interaction design & architecture(s)/ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s). Using Qualitative research, including case studies and analysis of user practices., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design self-tracking applications with built-in social functionalities that enable users to connect, compare, and share their data-driven insights with others.
Quantified Self to Quantified Us: Designing for Social Connection Through Data Sharing
Designers should move beyond individualistic self-tracking tools to create platforms that facilitate social connection and communication through shared data.
Interaction design & architecture(s)/ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s) · 2016
Key Findings
- 01Users desire to connect with others through their self-tracked data, not just for individual benefit.
- 02Existing self-tracking tools often lack features that support sharing, comparison, and storytelling with others.
- 03Users develop workarounds to share and discuss their data, indicating a clear need for integrated social features.
Application
Design takeaway
Design self-tracking applications with built-in social functionalities that enable users to connect, compare, and share their data-driven insights with others.
How to apply
When designing any personal informatics or health-tracking application, consider how users might want to share their progress or insights with friends, family, or support groups, and build those features in from the start.
Project actions
- 01Consider a project that involves users sharing data with a specific group (e.g., a sports team, a study group).
- 02Explore how data visualization can be used to facilitate comparison and discussion between users.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Highlights a critical, often overlooked, user need in the self-tracking domain.
- +Provides a conceptual framework ('Quantified Us') for future design.
Limitations
It can be challenging to design for privacy and social sharing simultaneously, as users may have conflicting desires.
Reliability & validity
The findings are based on qualitative analysis of user practices and workarounds, suggesting strong ecological validity. However, the sample size and specific contexts may limit generalizability, impacting external validity without further quantitative studies.
Think critically
To what extent does the desire for social connection through data sharing outweigh concerns about privacy, and how can designers balance these competing needs?
Design Principles
"Design for shared experience and social connection, not just individual data aggregation."
Current self-tracking technologies often focus on individual goals, neglecting the inherent human desire for social interaction and shared experiences. By designing for a 'Quantified Us,' product development can foster stronger communities and more meaningful engagement with data.
What This Means for Your Design
Apps that track your fitness or habits are often just for you. But people like to share and compare this stuff with friends. So, make apps that help people connect over their tracked data.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when discussing user needs for social interaction and data sharing in your design project's user research section.
- 2.Use the 'Quantified Us' concept to justify the inclusion of collaborative or social features in your design proposal.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
User research indicates a significant need for self-tracking technologies to evolve beyond individualistic 'Quantified Self' models towards a 'Quantified Us' approach. Participants express a desire to share, compare, and create narratives around their personal data to foster interpersonal communication and connection. Therefore, the design of [Your Project Name] will incorporate features that facilitate social engagement with tracked data, addressing this identified user need for community and shared experience.
Source
Interaction design & architecture(s)/ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s)
Design Beyond the Numbers: Sharing, Comparing, Storytelling and the Need for a Quantified Us
journal · 2016
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about quantified self to quantified us: designing for social connection through data sharing?
- Design self-tracking applications with built-in social functionalities that enable users to connect, compare, and share their data-driven insights with others. Evidence: Interaction design & architecture(s)/ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s) (2016).
- Why does "Quantified Self to Quantified Us: Designing for Social Connection Through Data Sharing" matter for design?
- Current self-tracking technologies often focus on individual goals, neglecting the inherent human desire for social interaction and shared experiences. By designing for a 'Quantified Us,' product development can foster stronger communities and more meaningful engagement with data.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design self-tracking applications with built-in social functionalities that enable users to connect, compare, and share their data-driven insights with others.
- What were the main findings?
- Users desire to connect with others through their self-tracked data, not just for individual benefit.. Existing self-tracking tools often lack features that support sharing, comparison, and storytelling with others.. Users develop workarounds to share and discuss their data, indicating a clear need for integrated social features.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research, including case studies and analysis of user practices..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2016 journal from Interaction design & architecture(s)/ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing any personal informatics or health-tracking application, consider how users might want to share their progress or insights with friends, family, or support groups, and build those features in from the start.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on specific examples of self-tracking and may not represent all user groups or contexts.