Behavior continuation support device, behavior continuation support method, and program

Abstract

This behavior continuation support device supports the continuation of a behavior which was started in order to achieve a goal, by having a weariness detection unit configured so as to detect the feeling of being weary of the behavior, on the basis of the history of the status of achievement of a given person regarding a goal related to a given behavior; and a goal update unit configured so as to update the goal on the basis of the history when weariness is detected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a behavior continuation support device, a behavior continuation support method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] There are various methods for setting goals for behaviors and evaluating the degree of achievement in fields such as health and learning. Even limited to the health field, there are methods for evaluation using various indicators such as the number of steps, blood pressure, blood sugar level, and activity level.

[0003] For example, according to the smartphone application of Non-Patent Document 1, the setting of the target number of steps counted by daily walking is performed in advance, and the difference from the daily target is displayed to promote the improvement of the motivation to achieve the goal. Also, by displaying the number of times the goal is achieved in a week or a month, the improvement of the motivation to achieve the goal is promoted.

[0004] Also, in the field of learning, online learning services are becoming popular. For example, according to Non-Patent Document 2, it is possible to take a series of video lectures online, and lectures can be taken according to an individual's schedule regardless of time. In this service, the status of taking lectures and grades can be viewed in a list or in a graph, and the degree of achievement can be confirmed.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0005]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0006] However, according to the method described in Non-Patent Document 1, while it is possible to confirm the achievement status against the goals set by the user, it is difficult to determine whether the goals set were appropriate or not, because the user sets the goals themselves.

[0007] Furthermore, according to Non-Patent Document 2, although there are email notifications regarding course deadlines, it is difficult to adjust goals based on progress.

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the above points, and aims to provide support for continuing actions initiated to achieve a goal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the behavior continuation support device records the history of a person's achievement of a goal for a certain behavior. And whether or not the aforementioned person has used an application related to the aforementioned objective. The system includes a boredom detection unit configured to detect boredom with the aforementioned behavior, and a goal update unit configured to update the goal based on the history when boredom is detected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] It can support the continuation of actions taken to achieve a goal. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the behavioral continuation support system in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of the behavioral continuation support device 10 in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of the behavioral continuation support device 10 in the first embodiment. [Figure 4]This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing procedure performed in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows a first example of the achievement status of user A's goals in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows a second example of the achievement status of user A's goals in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows a third example of the achievement status of user A's goals in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of user A's step count information in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of the behavioral continuation support device 10 in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the second embodiment. [Figure 11] This diagram shows an example of the configuration of the target information DB16. [Figure 12] This figure illustrates the recalculation of the update target when boredom is detected for user A in the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a behavioral continuation support system in the first embodiment. In Figure 1, one or more information terminals 20 are connected to the behavioral continuation support device 10 via a network such as the Internet.

[0013] The information terminal 20 is an information processing terminal used by a person who sets a certain goal and starts acting to achieve the goal. For example, a smartphone, a smartwatch, or the like may be used as the information terminal 20. For example, walking 10,000 steps a day may be set as a goal. The information terminal 20 includes a sensor or the like for collecting health-related data such as the number of steps of the user. Depending on the content of the goal, it is also possible to use the log of an application or the like instead of a sensor. Although it is not essential to have a communication function as long as the functions required in this embodiment are satisfied, if it has a communication function, a more substantial application can be realized.

[0014] The action continuation support device 10 is one or more computers that execute a process for supporting the continuation of an action started by a user to achieve a goal.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the action continuation support device 10 in the first embodiment. The action continuation support device 10 in FIG. 2 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, etc., which are mutually connected by a bus B.

[0016] The program for realizing the process in the action continuation support device 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 storing the program is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the installation of the program does not necessarily have to be performed from the recording medium 101, and it may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files, data, etc.

[0017] When a program startup command is received, the memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it. The CPU 104 executes the functions related to the action continuation support device 10 according to the program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

[0018] Figure 3 shows an example of the functional configuration of the behavior continuation support device 10 in the first embodiment. In Figure 3, the behavior continuation support device 10 includes a goal setting unit 11, a goal achievement information collection unit 12, a boredom detection unit 13, a goal update unit 14, and an updated goal suggestion unit 15.

[0019] The following describes the processing procedures performed in the behavioral support system. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing procedures performed in the first embodiment.

[0020] In step S110, the goal-setting unit 11 receives the initial goal set by the user using the information terminal 20. Ideally, the user should set the goal using the information terminal 20, as this is preferable from the perspective of the user's goal-setting awareness. However, the user does not necessarily have to set the goal themselves; in health-related applications, for example, goals may be set by a public health nurse, registered dietitian, or doctor during a health guidance consultation. Similarly, in learning applications, goals may be set by a teacher, parent, or coach.

[0021] Subsequently, the user takes actions toward achieving the goal. During this process, the goal achievement information collection unit 12 automatically collects goal achievement information from the information terminal 20 according to pre-configured settings (S120). The collection of goal achievement information is performed, for example, on a daily basis. The goal achievement information can be any information that indicates the status of goal achievement (information that can determine whether or not the goal has been achieved). The transmission of goal achievement information from the information terminal 20 to the action continuation support device 10 does not necessarily have to be automatic. For example, the information terminal 20 may transmit the goal achievement information manually (in response to user operation on the information terminal 20).

[0022] The boredom detection unit 13 determines, for example, whether or not boredom has occurred with the actions taken to achieve the goal, based on the collected goal achievement information at predetermined multiple timings (S130). The boredom detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of boredom not only from the goal achievement information for one day, but also from the history of goal achievement information over a certain period such as one week or one month, if the number of days on which the goal is not achieved exceeds a predetermined number (for example, seven days or more) (consecutively). In detecting the occurrence of boredom, it is possible to evaluate based only on the history of unachieved goals, but in addition, application logs from the information terminal 20 may also be referred to. Specifically, the boredom detection unit 13 may determine with higher accuracy whether or not the user is bored with the activities toward achieving the goal, for example, if there is use of an application related to the goal even though the goal has not been achieved, then it may be determined that the user is not bored even though the goal has not been achieved.

[0023] If the boredom detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of boredom (Yes in S130), the goal update unit 14 calculates a new goal (updated goal) that is estimated to be highly achievable based on the goal information set in the goal setting unit 11 and the history of goal achievement information collected by the goal achievement information collection unit 12 (S140). In actual use, it is assumed that goals are often updated because they were not achieved, so the case where the goal cannot be achieved will be explained below.

[0024] If the goal cannot be achieved, the goal is either the initial goal or the last updated goal. On the other hand, goal achievement information from the information terminal 20 (in this case, a history of steps taken over a certain period, such as 5,555 steps per day) is collected by the goal achievement information collection unit 12 and stored in the auxiliary storage device 102, etc., so that an achievable updated goal can be recalculated using this information. For example, if the average number of steps taken per day over the past month is 6,000 steps, setting that value as the updated goal would result in goal achievement on approximately 50% of the days, which is expected to improve the user's self-esteem.

[0025] Next, the updated goal suggestion unit 15 outputs the updated goal calculated by the goal update unit 14 to be suggested (presented) to the user via the information terminal 20 (S150). In most cases, the user needs to be aware of their own goal information, so the information terminal 20 presents (suggests) the updated goal, and if the user accepts, the information terminal 20 transmits the updated goal to the goal setting unit 11. In that case (Yes in S160), the goal setting unit 11 updates the goal (S170). On the other hand, if the user does not need to be clearly aware of the goal, for example, if the updated goal suggestion unit 15 provides motivation such as praise regardless of the user's goal achievement, or if a teacher or parent changes the goal on their behalf, explicit consent from the user may be omitted.

[0026] By detecting boredom with goal-achieving actions and setting updated goals in this way, it is possible to expect continued action toward achieving those goals.

[0027] Next, the first embodiment will be explained based on a specific example. Here, the information terminal 20 is a smartphone (hereinafter referred to as "smartphone"), and a user (hereinafter referred to as "user A") uses an application (hereinafter referred to as "app") installed on the smartphone with the goal of taking 10,000 steps per day.

[0028] Daily step count information can be measured using the accelerometer of a smartphone or a smartwatch or activity tracker that can connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth® or similar technologies.

[0029] When user A sets a daily step count information (10,000 steps / day) as an initial goal in the smartphone app, this step count information is registered from the smartphone app to the goal setting unit 11 of the Web application (hereinafter referred to as "Web app") of the activity continuation support device 10. The smartphone app transmits the user's daily goal achievement information (e.g., 5,555 steps as of today) to the goal achievement information collection unit 12 of the Web app using the communication function of the smartphone. The boredom detection unit 13 of the Web app periodically (for example, once a day) compares the goal information (10,000 steps / day) with the goal achievement information and records the achievement status for that day (whether or not the goal was achieved).

[0030] For example, as shown in Figure 5, the achievement status of user A's daily goals can be most simply represented as either achieved or not achieved. However, the achievement status of goals may also be represented as a percentage, such as 150% or 70%, or as the number of steps taken (10,000 steps) versus the actual number of steps taken (5,555 steps).

[0031] For example, if the condition for detecting boredom is that the goal is not achieved for three consecutive days, then in the example shown in Figure 5, the boredom detection unit 13 detects on the 9th day that the person has become bored on the 8th day.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, if the achievement status of the goal is expressed by a numerical value for the number of steps, the boredom detection unit 13 may compare the step count goal with the actual daily step count against it and evaluate whether the goal has been achieved or not, or to what extent.

[0033] Furthermore, the boredom detection unit 13 may determine whether boredom has occurred by considering not only the health behavior set as the target value (in this case, the number of steps), but also other health-related behaviors, such as opening a step count management app to check the number of steps for the day, or checking the progress toward the daily target value if calorie intake is also being managed as a target, as shown in Figure 7. By doing so, it becomes possible to perform advanced boredom detection that will not misidentify a user as "bored" when they are not actually bored with walking but have not achieved their step count due to some other reason.

[0034] As shown in Figure 8, the goal update unit 14 calculates, for example, an average (rounded down) from the history of user A's past step count data. In this case, the updated goal suggestion unit 15 proposes 8,000 steps as a new goal to user A, thereby setting a more achievable goal. This method makes it possible to present a new goal to user A who has completely lost sight of their goal, potentially encouraging them to continue actions that lead to that goal.

[0035] Furthermore, for users whose goals continue to decline, setting a target based on past lows, such as 3,000 steps per day, can encourage them to achieve at least a minimum goal.

[0036] On the other hand, using the method described above, it is also possible to suggest higher goals to users who consistently achieve their goals over a long period. This makes it possible to change to more appropriate goals for users who are capable of achieving higher goals.

[0037] The updated target calculated by the target update unit 14 is proposed to the user by the target update proposal unit 15 via a smartphone app, and the target is updated with the user's consent, which helps to raise the user's awareness. Furthermore, even if the user does not agree to lower their target, being reminded of a higher target can lead to more proactive behavior.

[0038] By detecting boredom and updating goals in this way, it is possible to encourage users to continue their activities.

[0039] As described above, according to the first embodiment, by evaluating the degree of goal achievement within a certain period and proposing and setting achievable goals, it is possible to support the continuation of actions started to achieve goals. In other words, it is possible to make daily achievement of goals that are difficult to continue easier and increase the likelihood of continuation by boosting self-esteem.

[0040] Next, a second embodiment will be described. The differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described. Points not specifically mentioned in the second embodiment may be the same as in the first embodiment.

[0041] Figure 9 shows an example of the functional configuration of the behavioral continuation support device 10 in the second embodiment. In Figure 9, the same or corresponding parts as in Figure 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0042] In Figure 9, the behavior continuation support device 10 further includes a target information DB 16. The target information DB 16 can be implemented using, for example, an auxiliary storage device 102, or a storage device that can be connected to the behavior continuation support device 10 via a network.

[0043] The target information DB16 is a database (storage unit) that stores initial targets, target achievement information, boredom detection results, and updated targets for multiple users (in the example in Figure 9, users A, B, and C, etc.).

[0044] In the second embodiment, when the target update unit 14 detects that a user has become bored, it uses information about another user stored in the target information DB 16 to calculate the update target for that user.

[0045] Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the second embodiment. In Figure 10, steps identical to those in Figure 4 are given the same step numbers, and their explanations are omitted. In Figure 10, step S125 is added after step S120. Also, step S140 is replaced by step S140a.

[0046] In step S125, the goal achievement information collection unit 12 records the collected goal achievement information in the goal achievement information database.

[0047] Figure 11 shows an example of the configuration of the goal achievement information database. As shown in Figure 11, the goal achievement information database is a database that can store items such as attributes, goal information, and goal achievement information for each of multiple users.

[0048] Attributes include items that indicate physiological characteristics such as age, gender, and weight, personality traits, and social characteristics such as family structure.

[0049] The goal information and goal achievement information section includes the initial goal, daily goal achievement information, and updated goals if the goal is updated.

[0050] The goal achievement information collection unit 12 records the goal achievement information in the column corresponding to the day in the record corresponding to the user from whom the goal achievement information has been collected.

[0051] In step S140a, the goal update unit 14 recalculates the updated goal for the user in whom boredom was detected, based on the goals of one or more other users who have similar attributes (physiological characteristics such as age, gender, and weight, personality characteristics, social characteristics such as family structure, etc.) to the user in whom boredom was detected, according to predetermined criteria, and who have maintained goal achievement for a certain period of time or longer (for example, a number of days greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold) (hereinafter referred to as "reference users"). Similarity of attributes may be evaluated, for example, by representing attributes with numerical vectors and evaluating the similarity between vectors. In this case, the correspondence between the values ​​of each item constituting the attributes and the numerical values ​​can be determined in advance. Alternatively, similarity of attributes may be evaluated based on other criteria (methods).

[0052] Furthermore, for users who are detected to have lost interest, the recalculation of update targets based on the reference user's targets may be performed by calculating the average of the reference user's most recent targets.

[0053] Furthermore, the users designated as reference users may be limited to those whose initial goals are the same as those of users who have been detected as bored (or whose initial goals differ by less than a threshold). This reduces the possibility that the updated goals of users who have been detected as bored may deviate from their initial goals due to the influence of the goals of users whose initial goals have diverged.

[0054] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating the recalculation of the update target when boredom is detected for user A in the second embodiment.

[0055] Figure 12 shows the goal information and goal achievement history for each user with similar attributes to user A. According to Figure 12, users B and C were detected as bored on the 4th day, and their update goal was set to 9,000 steps on the 5th day. For the other users, the update goal was also set to 9,000 steps on the 6th day. Subsequently, these users achieved their update goals (or were not detected as bored) until the 109th day, when user A's boredom was detected. In this case, the goal update unit 14 calculates 9,000 steps, which is the average of these users' update goals, as user A's update goal.

[0056] This makes it possible to set goals that are more effective in encouraging the continuation of goal-achieving behaviors.

[0057] Furthermore, for detecting boredom, as in the first embodiment, smartphone operation logs such as information on launching a step count management app as shown in Figure 7, calorie intake information (achievement status against the target), and other health management information (vital data such as weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels) may be used.

[0058] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10. Support device for continuing activities 11. Goal Setting Department 12. Goal Achievement Information Gathering Department 13. Boredom detection unit 14 Goal Update Department 15 Updated target proposal department 16 Target information DB 20 Information terminals 100 drive unit 101 Recording media 102 Auxiliary storage 103 Memory device 104 CPU 105 Interface device B Bus

Claims

1. A boredom detection unit is configured to detect boredom with a certain behavior based on a person's history of achieving a goal for a certain behavior and whether or not that person has used an application related to the said goal. A target update unit is configured to update the target based on the history when the aforementioned boredom is detected, A behavioral continuation support device characterized by having the following features.

2. The boredom detection unit is configured not to detect boredom even if the goal has not been achieved for a predetermined number of consecutive times in the history, as long as the person is using the application. The action continuation support device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a feature of the present invention.

3. A boredom detection unit is configured to detect boredom with a certain behavior based on a person's history of achieving a goal for a certain behavior and whether or not that person has used an application related to the said goal. A target update unit is configured to update the target based on a target achieved by someone other than the aforementioned person when the aforementioned boredom is detected. A behavioral continuation support device characterized by having the following features.

4. The aforementioned other person is a person who has attributes similar to those of the aforementioned certain person according to a predetermined standard. The action continuation support device according to claim 3.

5. A target update proposal unit is configured to output a target update proposal from the target update unit. The action continuation support device according to claim 1 or 3, characterized by having the following features.

6. A boredom detection procedure for detecting boredom with a certain behavior, based on a person's history of achieving a goal for a certain behavior and whether or not that person has used an application related to the said goal, A goal update procedure is provided to update the goal based on the history when the aforementioned boredom is detected. A method for supporting the continuation of an action, characterized in that a computer performs the action.

7. A boredom detection procedure for detecting boredom with a certain behavior, based on a person's history of achieving a goal for a certain behavior and whether or not that person has used an application related to the said goal, A goal update procedure in which, when the aforementioned boredom is detected, the aforementioned goal is updated based on a goal achieved by someone other than the aforementioned person, A method for supporting the continuation of an action, characterized in that a computer performs the action.

8. A program characterized by causing a computer to execute the behavioral support method described in claim 6 or 7.

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