brochella.larissa@gmail.com
@larissabrochella
brochella.larissa@gmail.com
@larissabrochella
Surveillance of the Productive Self
AVA is a habit tracker App and the Critical Design Artifact created based on explorations of the Concepts of Self-Design and Self-Surveillance. In modern society, individuals are valued based on their appearance, health, consumption, and productivity, reinforcing the belief that self-improvement is an ongoing ethical responsibility. This has given rise to a plethora of self-monitoring tools, that prioritize efficiency and effectivity. One such tool is the habit tracker, designed to help users achieve goals.
In this project I created a habit tracker, focusing on self-care and it‘s insidious connection to productivity. An important feature of this habit tracker is AVA - the voice of the App and App personified.
Initially the app functions like a standard habit tracker, its normal use is gradually subverted through different interventions. In the beginning AVA shares normal reminders and notifications, but over time the tone of voices becomes harsher and more critical.
Additonally AVA starts taking over control; more and more habits are added to the users tracker; notifications flood the user without the option to delete and AVA’s voice becomes a constant stream of criticism, that can’t be turned off.
AVA is a habit tracker App and the Critical Design Artifact created based on explorations of the Concepts of Self-Design and Self-Surveillance. In modern society, individuals are valued based on their appearance, health, consumption, and productivity, reinforcing the belief that self-improvement is an ongoing ethical responsibility. This has given rise to a plethora of self-monitoring tools, that prioritize efficiency and effectivity. One such tool is the habit tracker, designed to help users achieve goals.
In this project I created a habit tracker, focusing on self-care and it‘s insidious connection to productivity. An important feature of this habit tracker is AVA - the voice of the App and App personified.
Initially the app functions like a standard habit tracker, its normal use is gradually subverted through different interventions. In the beginning AVA shares normal reminders and notifications, but over time the tone of voices becomes harsher and more critical.
Additonally AVA starts taking over control; more and more habits are added to the users tracker; notifications flood the user without the option to delete and AVA’s voice becomes a constant stream of criticism, that can’t be turned off.
Individual Project
2023
AVA
The use of the app starts outas a seemingly normal habit-tracker. An important aspect of the app is AVA. AVA is both the name of the app and the character that personifies it. Inspired by virtual assistants like Alexa, AVA was designed to have an omnipresent and initially nurturing voice that guides the user.
The presence of AVA evolves during the use in the app, starting with normal notifications, reminders and habit recommendations. Over Time AVA becomes much more
controlling and mean.
Tone of
Voice
Then there is a change in AVA’s tone of voice, which transitions from being a supportive and caring assistant to a manipulative and pressuring presence. The app starts making the fictional user feel guilty about missing habits and fosters competition with friends.There is an increase in the frequency of notifications creating a sense of constant surveillance and urgency.
Taking
Control
Gradually AVA takes over control of the user. This happens primarily through the addition of new habits that the user did not choose, as well as the removal of the option to decline a habit recommendation.