(in German)

Despite a considerable amount of operational safety regulations there is a high number of accidents at work. Unsafe acts and deliberate violations of safety rules are the most common causes of operational accidents. Strikingly, persuasive technologies harbour the potential to influence the behaviour of humans. This project examines the influence of persuasive technologies on employees by means of appropriate design of the user interface.

In three empirical studies various forms of persuasive technology are examined regarding their effect on safety-oriented behaviour during multiple simulated work tasks. The first experimental study represents a feasibility study, assessing the basic suitability of persuasive assistance to animate individuals to safe behaviour. The second experiment evaluates the generalizability and transferability of the results to the operational practice. The third investigation deals with the limits and mechanisms of the influence on the behaviour of test persons.

In sum, all three experimental studies provide evidence indicating the suitability of persuasive messages to promote safety-oriented behaviour and reduce security breaches. Thus the results of this project promote a strong suggestion that the principle of persuasive technologies may serve as a design element to promote safe behaviour in operational procedures.

Please download the complete report "Safe and healthy by persuasive technology?" (in German only).