Designing to Persuade: the Use of Emotion in Networked Media

Light, A. (2004) Designing to Persuade: the Use of Emotion in Networked Media in Interacting with Computers, 16, pp729-738

This commentary looks first at the paradigm shift taking place in analysis of people’s interactions with digital products and services – from evaluating performance to researching experience – in line with trends towards the connectivity, mobility and domestication of devices. It then asks what impact this shift has on our understanding of emotion and technology use; exploring the rise of ‘generative’ situations, in particular when the producer of a networked service has different intentions from the user’s and the stimulation of affect may be considered desirable. The author’s work analysing the emotional impact of the design of networked media is outlined. The paper concludes with some thoughts on the ethics of manipulation.