Stanford University, Winter 2002

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Tetrash A Recycling Simulation

• A conceptual captology design by
• Caroline Campbell, Sara Jasper, and Ling Kong

Design Challenge To design a simulation for a
small screen that motivates or influences a
particular user. Time limit 9 hours per team
member, start to finish
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Recycling Simulation

• Persuasive Purpose
• To design a simulation for a small screen that
  motivates or influences a particular user to be
  more aware of recycling and its benefits, leading
  to the user actually recycling more.

Industrial Design
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User Description

• Cell phone users
• All ages
• Visual and physical ability to see the small
  screen and manipulate the phones buttons in a
  game environment

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Tetrashs influence
He plays Tetrash, and though hes enjoying it as
a fun, accessible game, he actually is exposed to
recycling images, benefits and behaviors.
After the appointment, he notices the green
recycling can and recognizes it as such.
Waiting for his appointment, a cell phone user
decides to pass the time by playing a game on his
cell phone.
He decides to recycle the can from which he was
drinking because he is more aware of easy objects
to recycle, recycling bins, and the benefits of
his action.
He feels great about recycling, and continues
recycling behavior.
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Prototype of Tetrash
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Features/Functionality

• What Tetris-style GAME
• Goal earn high score by correctly and quickly
  placing trash objects into their correct
  recycling bins
• 3 recycling bins bottles, cans, and paper
• 10 levels of difficulty - what changes as the
  levels increase trash objects move increasingly
  quickly, bins begin to switch around
• Level is passed if a certain score is earned.
• Fun sounds accompany falling objects

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Theoretical Justifications

• Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) - Simulation
  targets both central and peripheral processing
  routes for more effective persuasion
• Message repetition- Repeated exposure tends to
  generate positive attitudes -- positive actions
• Message is easily comprehensible
• Seduction- Simulation entices user by diverting
  attention with a visual, interactive game design
• Positive reinforcement- Game is fun, absorbing,
  and positive, thus increasing the likelihood that
  users will make positive associations with
  recycling images, attitudes and behaviors

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Theoretical Justifications (cont)

• Similar to Tetris game - familiar, simple.
• Green recycling bins like actual bins - easy to
  make that connection to the real world.
• Informational text minimal - avoids the preachy
  feeling of a tutorial, instead focuses on game
  with the persuasive aspect being subtle
• Varying levels of difficulty- accessible to
  users of different ages and skill levels - likely
  that users will play repeatedly if they have more
  levels to complete
• High score displayed to encourage users to try to
  top it, thereby playing more

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Results of User Testing

• Preferred consistently colored bins over bins of
  three different colored
• Liked realistic look of trash objects with
  varying colors
• Stanford students associated recycling with green
  bins more than with blue bins
• Positive response to recycling facts that appear
  after advancing to a new level
• Preferred challenges to the game, i.e. switching
  of bins, obstacles.

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Shortcomings of Design

• Simulation is fun, but it may be possible to
  ignore the persuasive implications.
• Not complex enough to be engaging on an
  intellectual level

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Expansion - What else is possible?

• Other form factors or ID possibilities
• Simulation could be implemented in an
  informational kiosk at a childrens museum
• Could be played on any type of screen, whether on
  a computer, a watch, a Palm, or as a video game
  on a TV.
• Other features or functionalities
• Show video of the way in which things get
  recycled, made into new products
• Use technique of Negative Esteem - show the
  effects of missed recycling opportunities (wrong
  bin, no bin) and fine the user for littering,
  call him/her a litterbug
• When paused, the game will display an information
  screen about game play. On subsequent pages, if
  the user wants to read, there would be
  interesting facts about recycling.

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Next Steps in Design Process

• Fully functional Java to mobile phone software
  implementation
• More complex interaction between graphics and
  sound
• More user testing on actual game play
• More level designs, with obstacles

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Summary

• Tetrash allows people to enjoy the challenge of
  playing a game while taking in persuasive
  messages about the benefits of recycling through
  peripheral and central channels
• Positive associations with recycling will affect
  users attitudes, and eventually result in
  behavioral changes.
• Heightened awareness of the positive results of
  recycling will persuade users of all ages will to
  increase their recycling behavior, which has
  benefits for their community and the greater
  environment

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• Tetrash...
• Download now
• _at_ www.stanford.edu/ling/tetrash/tetrash.html