AutoWatch is no longer a persuasive technology because its goal is not to moti
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vate or influence; it’s just secretly monitoring.
This brings up a key point: For surveillance technologies to effectively
change behaviors, they must be overt, not covert. Delivery companies some
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times post a message on the back of their trucks: “How am I driving?” with a
toll-free number to report problems. The fact that the truck drivers know others
can report them for reckless driving probably motivates them to drive more
safely.
Contrast this with a covert installation of AutoWatch. How will teens be
motivated to avoid driving recklessly if they don’t know their driving is being
monitored by AutoWatch? When used covertly, AutoWatch is geared toward
punishment, not