FlyFit: Exploring Abstractness in Visualisations for Fitness tracking data

Abstract

Visualisations are frequently used within personal informatics systems, including fitness tracking tools. The purpose of tracking tools is to help users change their behaviour, but they are often unable to engage and support users. This often leads to abandonment of the tool and the behaviour remains unchanged. Not properly maintaining all elements of well-being, where physical well-being is included, results in a decline in one’s quality of life which is why it is important that tools are helpful to users.

This thesis explores visualisations with three different levels of abstraction with reflection and engagement as the focus. The three levels include a classic bar chart as well as two abstract visualisations, designed during this project. A survey (n = 222) was used to evaluate the visualisations. A mobile application called FlyFit with the visualisations included was then developed and used in follow-up interviews (n = 9) to gain a deeper understanding and explore the intended context.

I found that low levels of abstraction offered a better potential for reflection while no significant difference was found regarding engagement. My contribution is insights into the use of abstraction in personal informatics together with suggestions for future work within the field, such as exploring the use of multiple visualisations together, customisation, and different shapes of abstract representations.