PEGASO – A system for the promotion and adoption of correct lifestyles among teenagers

Authors

Giuseppe Andreoni, Carlo Emilio Standoli, Paolo Perego

Sustainable development goals

Tema

salute
stili di vita
giovani

Strumenti

smart personalised coaching system
social platform
app
smart bracelet
sensorized smart garments
user centred co-design
serious games
gamification and rewarding approach

What does the promoted behavioral change consist of?

The PEGASO F4F project aims to create a system for the promotion and adoption of healthy lifestyles among adolescents, thanks to the use of ICT technologies. In Western countries, childhood and adolescent obesity is constantly growing; this trend represented the initial focus of the project. Subsequently, the PEGASO project set itself the goal of creating awareness among adolescents on the importance of proper nutrition, the regular practice of sport and an active lifestyle, as well as socialization with their peers.

PEGASO is based on three main aspects: a system for monitoring the activities and behavior of users, through the use of wearable sensors (smart bracelets and sensorized clothing), smartphones and apps; the proposition of personalized feedback for each user, based on the activities carried out and their personal interests, to encourage healthy lifestyles; the voluntary sharing of one’s activities and objectives achieved through a social network, which encourages the exchange of information and experiences between users.

The approach and systems developed in PEGASO F4F have been proposed to adolescents between 14 and 16 years, in Italy, Spain and England for a period of about 6 months.

What are the main features of the tools designed/implemented to promote behavioral change and how have they been tested?

In PEGASO, both physical tools (sensorized garments and smart bracelets) and digital tools (apps and serious games) have been developed.

As for the sensorized garments, conductive textiles have been integrated into sport garments; thanks to these and to specially designed electronics, it was possible to acquire the physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate and activity carried out) by users during sport, in an absolutely natural and non-intrusive way.

Thanks to the smart bracelet, parameters relating to the daily activity of the subjects were acquired, in terms of steps and distance. Also in this case, the use of a familiar and commonly used object has contributed to its acceptability, despite the age range of users.

Thanks to the App, users were able to enter data relating to their daily diet, the activities carried out (of any kind, from normal activity at school, to sports, up to the occasions in which they met friends).

On the basis of all the data obtained from the sensors and from the use of the App, users were offered tailor-made activities, to improve awareness and the possible adoption of a positive lifestyle with respect to physical activity, sport, nutrition, sociability.

Users were able to test the PEGASO platform for three months.

What results have been achieved? What are the potentials and obstacles?

The involvement of users in all phases of the project, from the definition of the requirements, to the development of the idea, from the test phase to that of evaluation and definition of development lines, was of fundamental importance on several levels. On a first level, users were able to become aware of the meaning and value of the concept of health and its multi-dimensionality. They then had the opportunity to use familiar tools and technologies (apps and smart bracelets) or less familiar ones (sensorized clothing), with a different purpose and awareness, as they are linked to the issue of health and the acquisition of healthy lifestyles.

Among the obstacles, in addition to the development and maintenance of the platform over time, there was the difficulty in creating an ecosystem of stakeholders and policy makers as well as their involvement in the creation and organization of services on a local scale, aimed at adolescents.

[last update: 22/2/2020]

Research team at PoliMi

Department of Design; TeDH Research Lab – Technology and Design for Healthcare – Coordinator Prof. Giuseppe Andreoni

PROJECT (2013-2017)
PEGASO – Personalised Guidance Services for Optimising lifestyle in teen-agers through awareness, motivation and engagement
funded by EU FP7

PEGASO – A system for the promotion and adoption of correct lifestyles among teenagers

Authors

Sustainable development goals

Tema

Strumenti

What does the promoted behavioral change consist of?

What are the main features of the tools designed/implemented to promote behavioral change and how have they been tested?

What results have been achieved? What are the potentials and obstacles?

Altri progetti