Zabit: Habit Reshaping Design
As part of my graduate thesis project, I created a set of two apps, one for kids and one for parents, that aim to increate the physical activity habits of kids living in urban areas. The research for this project revolved around the science of habits, behavioral design, and gamification principles. The result of this research and process was a book, written, designed, and illustrated by me, as well as two interactive prototypes for the two apps.
UI Design and Interactions
Zabit aims at altering children's inactive habits. Upon signing up, parents can set up their kid's profile based on a specific habit that they would like their kid to change. As a result, the app's tips and ideas for activities parents can do with kids are all based around this one habit.
Zabit works along with the phone's built-in accelerometer and records the amount of activity kids and their parents perform each day. Kid/Parent races automatically occur every day, while friend races can be set up by the kids. Once a user reaches one hour of moderate physical activity per day, they receive one zab, the system's version of a point. The winner of each day's race, or the person who gets the most physical activity, receives another zab. Kids are also able to chat with each other while racing, as social media, according to my surveys and research, is more appealing to kids than games on their phones.
Kids are able to use their earned zabs for goals that they set up through their parents. To do this, kids can request things they want from their parents and parents, in turn, get to set up the amount of zabs the kids will need in order to reach their goal.
When kids their goals, parents are notified immediately.
