Promoting Water Bottle Use by Using Persuasive Human Computer Interaction

Abstract

Every year, tons of plastic water bottles are disposed of by Americans, affecting entire ecosystems and further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions through their manufacturing process. According to an article on Green America, “Each year, 35 billion plastic water bottles are thrown in the trash in the United States alone” (Beane, 2015). Since Americans today, and likewise Villanovans, spend much time on their phones, is there a way to utilize these devices to get people to take action against these harmful ways? The concept of persuasive human computer interaction (HCI) can help. Perhaps an app that could reward people for filling up their water bottle would prove effective. Additionally, installing more public water bottle fountains and giving out water bottles to people can allow more convenience. At Villanova University, to help more students use these fountains, an environmental HCI application could use incentives to encourage more users such as having dorm halls compete against each other with water bottle usage for rewards. With more reusable water bottle filling stations and a rewarding sustainability app, Villanova students would use reusable bottles more, therefore diminishing the university’s disposable water bottle use.