Research
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Empathetic gauges
Building Dashboard® interpretive gauges use dynamic animated landscapes to visualize energy and water consumption in a fun and informative way. Empathetic gauges, another form of interpretive gauges, use dynamic animated characters to tell the same story in a way that seeks to generate a deeper emotional relationship with the data.
We believe that fostering a greater sense of empathetic connection between personal choices and environmental consequences is likely to promote better resource use decisions. Lucid's collaborative research is demonstrating the popularity and effectiveness of these unconventional gauges.
Charismatic creatures respond to real-time consumption data by exhibiting a variety of different behaviors. A squirrel, for example, might tell the viewer how it feels about the level of consumption, expressing either its dissatisfaction or its approval. When consumption is higher than normal, the squirrel suggests ways in which consumption might be curtailed.
Working with Lucid co-founder Dr. John Petersen at Oberlin College, Lucid is collaborating with a team of psychologists and artists to test how occupants respond to different modes of data delivery and contextualization. In particular, the research group is experimenting with characters that foster a sense of connection among community members and a desire to make decisions that benefit the community. As more research findings become available, we'll post them on our website.
Oberlin Environmental Dashboard: "Fostering Connection and Empathy"
"An individual's choices are often inconsistent with that person's stated concern for the environment. We are experimenting with the use of animated characters that respond to real-time consumption data as one mechanism to better connect viewers' understanding of resource use with behaviors."
Orbs
