AN ELECTRONIC QUIT SMOKING COACH: DESIGNING COMPUTER AGENTS AS PERSUASIVE SOCIAL ACTORS By
Geraud Plantegenest · 2005
AN ELECTRONIC QUIT SMOKING COACH: DESIGNING COMPUTER AGENTS AS PERSUASIVE SOCIAL ACTORS By Geraud Luis Plantegenest An online electronic quit smoking coach takes the place of structured phone-based human coaches. Using the same interview protocols as in person and telephone human interventions, online agents can potentially promote health and make services which persuade and provide motivation available to anyone, anytime and anywhere. The thesis study reports on development and the first test of this new system, implemented using coaches with two different personalities, friendly and stern. The project explores the potential of the Internet as the medium to deliver the simulated smoking cessation experience and looks at reactions on the part of a small number of users to different aspects of the electronic agent. It is a prelude to a large scale study to test the effectiveness of electronic online coaches in helping people quit smoking through a new web-based approach. Copyright by GERAUD LUIS PLANTEGENEST 2005