Skip to main content

Red Radiators Versus Red Tulips: The Influence of Context on the Interpretation and Effectiveness of Color-Based Ambient Persuasive Technology

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Persuasive Technology (PERSUASIVE 2016)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 9638))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Colors are widely used as feedback in ambient persuasive technology. In current research, we argue that the information that color-based feedback carries is highly context dependent. Two studies investigated effects of context (in which color-based feedback was presented) on user’s interpretation of feedback messages, and more importantly, on the effectiveness of this feedback (for influencing energy conservation behavior). Results of both studies showed that participants perceived the color red in an energy-related context to be warmer and as related to a higher energy consumption level than red in an energy-unrelated context. Also, participants receiving color-based feedback in an energy-related context consumed the lowest amount of energy. These findings extend our insight into the psychological mechanisms of ambient persuasive technology by making clear that ambient stimuli (e.g., color) are part of a broader context (e.g., projected on a radiator) that influences user’s interpretation and the effectiveness of these stimuli.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ford, F.L.: Political Murder: From Tyrannicide to Terrorism. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Schneider, W.: Sinn und Un-Sinn: Umwelt Sinnlich Erlebbar Gestalten in Architektur und Design. Bau-Verlag, Berlin (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barsalou, L.W.: Perceptual symbol systems. Behav. Brain Sci. 22(04), 577–660 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Helson, H., Blake, R.R., Mouton, J.S., Olmstead, J.A.: Attitudes as adjustments to stimulus, background, and residual factors. J. Abnorm. Soc. Psychol. 52(3), 314 (1956)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sherif, M.: An Outline of Psychology. Sage Publications, New York (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Zhong, C.B., Leonardelli, G.J.: Cold and lonely does social exclusion literally feel cold? Psychol. Sci. 19(9), 838–842 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Howell, W.C., Kennedy, P.A.: Field validation of the fanger thermal comfort model. Hum. Factors: J. Hum. Factors Ergon. Soc. 21(2), 229–239 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Howell, W.C., Stramler, C.S.: Contribution of psychological variables to the prediction of thermal comfort judgments in real world settings. ASHRAE Trans. 87(5), 609–619 (1981). (United States)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Stramler, C.S., Kleiss, J.A., Howell, W.C.: Thermal sensation shifts induced by physical and psychological means. J. Appl. Psychol. 68(1), 187 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Strack, F., Deutsch, R.: Acting green elicits a literal warm glow. Nat. Clim. Change 5, 37–40 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Tofle, R.B., Schwarz, B., Yoon, S.Y., Max-Royale, A., Des, M., Thanks, S.: Color in healthcare environments-a research report (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Elliot, A.J., Maier, M.A., Moller, A.C., Friedman, R., Meinhardt, J.: Color and psychological functioning: The effect of red on performance attainment. J. Exp. Psychol.: Gen. 136(1), 154–168 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bennett, C.A., Rey, P.: What’s so hot about red? Hum. Factors: J. Hum. Factors Ergon. Soc. 14(2), 149–154 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fanger, P., Breum, N., Jerking, E.: Can colour and noise influence man’s thermal comfort? Ergon. 20(1), 11–18 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Winzen, J., Albers, F., Marggraf-Micheel, C.: The influence of coloured light in the aircraft cabin on passenger thermal comfort. Lighting Research and Technology 1477153513484028 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Candas, V., Dufour, A.: Thermal comfort: multisensory interactions? J. Physiol. Anthropol. Appl. Hum. Sci. 24(1), 33–36 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ho, H.N., Iwai, D., Yoshikawa, Y., Watanabe, J., Nishida, S.: Combining colour and temperature: A blue object is more likely to be judged as warm than a red object. Sci. Rep., vol. 4 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Berry, P.C.: Effect of colored illumination upon perceived temperature. J. Appl. Psychol. 45(4), 248 (1961)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Jacobs, K.W., Suess, J.F.: Effects of four psychological primary colors on anxiety state. Percept. Motor Skills 41(1), 207–210 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Yoto, A., Katsuura, T., Iwanaga, K., Shimomura, Y.: Effects of object color stimuli on human brain activities in perception and attention referred to eeg alpha band response. J. Physiol. Anthropol. 26(3), 373–379 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Mehta, R., Zhu, R.: Blue or Red? Exploring the effect of color on cognitive task performances. Sci. 323, 1226–1229 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kwallek, N., Lewis, C.M., Robbins, A.S.: Effects of office interior color on workers’ mood and productivity. Percept. Motor Skills 66(1), 123–128 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Soldat, A.S., Sinclair, R.C., Mark, M.M.: Color as an environmental processing cue: External affective cues can directly affect processing strategy without affecting mood. Soc. Cogn. 15(1), 55–71 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Etnier, J.L., Hardy, C.J.: The effects of environmental color. J. Sport Behav. 20(3), 299 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ainsworth, R.A., Simpson, L., Cassell, D.: Effects of three colors in an office interior on mood and performance. Percept. Motor Skills 76(1), 235–241 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Kaya, N., Epps, H.: Relationship between color and emotion: A study of college students. Coll. Student J. 38(3), 396 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  27. O’Connor, Z.: Colour psychology and colour therapy: caveat emptor. Color Res. Appl. 36(3), 229–234 (2011)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  28. Elliot, A.J., Maier, M.A.: Color-in-context theory. Adv. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 45, 61–125 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Fogg, B.: Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Arroyo, E., Bonanni, L., Selker, T.: Waterbot : Exploring Feedback and Persuasive Techniques at the Sink. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 631–639 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Midden, C., Kaiser, F.G., Mccalley, L.T.: Technology’s four roles in understanding individuals’ conservation of natural resources. J. Soc. Issues 63(1), 155–174 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Maan, S., Merkus, B., Ham, J., Midden, C.: Making it not too obvious: The effect of ambient light feedback on space heating energy consumption. Energy Effi. 4(2), 175–183 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Jentsch, M., Jahn, M., Pramudianto, F., Simon, J., Al-Akkad, A.: An energy-saving support system for office environments. In: Salah, A.A., Lepri, B. (eds.) HBU 2011. LNCS, vol. 7065, pp. 83–92. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  34. Merkus, B., Ham, J., Midden, C.: A Shower Meter to Save Water and Energy : the Influence of Two Feedback Sources, Goals, and the Role of Comfort on Conservation Behavior in a Lab and Field Experiment in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Human. Ph.D. thesis (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Midden, C., Kimura, H., Ham, J., Nakajima, T., Kleppe, M.: Persuasive power in groups: the influence of group feedback and individual comparison feedback on energy consumption behavior. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Persuasive Technology: Persuasive Technology and Design: Enhancing Sustainability and Health, p. 1. ACM (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Ham, J., Midden, C.: A persuasive robotic agent to save energy: the influence of social feedback, feedback valence and task similarity on energy conservation behavior. In: Ge, S.S., Li, H., Cabibihan, J.-J., Tan, Y.K. (eds.) ICSR 2010. LNCS, vol. 6414, pp. 335–344. Springer, Heidelberg (2010)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  37. Lu, S., Ham, J., Midden, C.J.H.: Using ambient lighting in persuasive communication: the role of pre-existing color associations. In: Spagnolli, A., Chittaro, L., Gamberini, L. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2014. LNCS, vol. 8462, pp. 167–178. Springer, Heidelberg (2014)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. Busch, M., Schrammel, J., Flu, M.A., Kruijff, E., Tscheligi, M.: Persuasive strategies report. CURE-Center for Usability Research & Engineering (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Becker, L.J., Seligman, C., Fazio, R.H., Darley, J.M.: Relating attitudes to residential energy use. Environ. Behav. 13(5), 590–609 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Heijs, W., Stringer, P.: Research on residential thermal comfort: Some contributions from environmental psychology. J. Environ. Psychol. 8, 235–247 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lu, S., Ham, J., Midden, C.: Persuasive technology based on bodily comfort experiences: the effect of color temperature of room lighting on user motivation to change room temperature. In: MacTavish, T., Basapur, S. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2015. LNCS, vol. 9072, pp. 83–94. Springer, Heidelberg (2015)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shengnan Lu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Lu, S., Ham, J., Midden, C. (2016). Red Radiators Versus Red Tulips: The Influence of Context on the Interpretation and Effectiveness of Color-Based Ambient Persuasive Technology. In: Meschtscherjakov, A., De Ruyter, B., Fuchsberger, V., Murer, M., Tscheligi, M. (eds) Persuasive Technology. PERSUASIVE 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9638. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31510-2_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31510-2_26

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31509-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31510-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics