Trigger-Action Programming for Wellbeing: Insights From 6590 iOS Shortcuts

Trigger-action programming (TAP) platforms allow users to personalize their digital ecosystems through the definition of trigger-action rules such as “if I’m leaving home, then turn the smart thermostat off.” Yet, little is known about whether such a paradigm can be used to support users’ wellbeing....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE pervasive computing 2024-07, Vol.23 (3), p.49-56
Main Authors: Roffarello, Alberto Monge, Purohit, Aditya Kumar, Purohit, Satyam V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety disorders
Automation
Digital control
Ecosystems
Health and safety
Human factors
Monitoring
Multimedia communication
Physical design
Programming environments
Smart devices
Smart phones
Social factors
Social implications of technology
Trigger circuits
User experience
Web sites
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Summary:Trigger-action programming (TAP) platforms allow users to personalize their digital ecosystems through the definition of trigger-action rules such as “if I’m leaving home, then turn the smart thermostat off.” Yet, little is known about whether such a paradigm can be used to support users’ wellbeing. To bridge this gap, we scraped 6590 trigger-action programs from iOS shortcuts, and analyzed the dataset to understand what aspects of their wellbeing users are already programming and what opportunities remain untapped. Findings show that users are only capturing a fraction of this opportunity, with a majority of wellbeing-related programs targeting health and physical exercise. To shed light on an underexploited use case, we showcase two interventions for digital self-control developed through iOS shortcuts, highlighting challenges and opportunities to use TAP as a viable option to improve existing digital habits and self-regulate technology use, thus mitigating the negative effects of excessive digital engagement.
ISSN:1536-1268
1558-2590
DOI:10.1109/MPRV.2024.3416698