http://www.rolighetsteorin.se/en/

I found an initiative put together and funded by the Volkswagen motor company called The Fun Theory. This initiative most likely derived from a marketing aspect uses new media to convey strong ideas of “forced behavior.”

The projects or installations presented by this company pose an interesting question that is rooted in human behavior and routine, and pushes those behaviors to new boundaries using interactive installations. The question is how can we make people make better, or more efficient/health friendly decisions using new media. I believe this company succeeded greatly in their efforts or so it seems.

The installations give a passerby a suitable “better” alternative to routine behavior. Much like the staircase or the trash can, simple circuits are used to make a healthier decision more appealing. To which many of the subjects chose as the more interesting or interactive option thus making a healthier decision.

I enjoyed the “behind the scenes” look at how these circuits were constructed and how the installations were put in. I think this offers a very simplistic view and solution to every decisions and how media can be a very strong driving force.

It’s no mystery that the more interesting decision is the one most choose. Much like our reading on Augmented Space, the use of interactive media in these installations was used to change behavioral routines. I think this is something that we will definitely be seeing more in the future as western culture attempts to be more health and environmentally conscious. Speaking in terms of behavior not necessarily associated with health it would be interesting to see how far interactive media can persuade the masses…or maybe not. Case in point, media can be a very strong driving force for culture.
JJerik