Persuasive Technology

Introduction

P ersuasion in the Digital Age

Computers weren’t initially created to persuade; they were built for handling

data—calculating, storing, and retrieving. But as computers have migrated

from research labs onto desktops and into everyday life, they have become

more persuasive by design. Today computers are taking on a variety of roles as

persuaders, including roles of influence that traditionally were filled by teach-

ers, coaches, clergy, therapists, doctors, and salespeople, among others. We

have entered an era of persuasive technology, of interactive computing systems

designed to change people’s attitudes and behaviors.

The earliest signs ...