Engineering:MotivAider

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Short description: electronic device for changing behavior
File:Fifth Generation MotivAider by Behavioral Dynamics Inc 2019.jpg
Fifth generation MotivAider device, 2019
DeveloperBehavioral Dynamics, Inc.
TypeWearable technology
Generation5th (2019)[1]
Lifespan1987-present[2]
DisplayLCD[3]
SoundNone
ConnectivityNone
Power1 x AA battery[1]
Dimensions2 1⁄2 inches (63.5 mm) x 2 1⁄2 inches (63.5 mm) x 3⁄4 inch (19.1 mm) [1]
Mass3 ounces (85 g)[1][3]
Websitehabitchange.com

MotivAider is a wearable, electronic device resembling a pager that emits silent vibration signals at programmed intervals to remind and urge users to make desired changes in their behavior, thinking, and habits. The device was invented by clinical psychologist Steve Levinson in the early 1980s, and sold by Behavioral Dynamics, Inc., a company he co-founded in 1987 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States.[4][2][5] Many noted uses of the MotivAider device are in health care and education settings where it has been the subject of independent peer reviewed studies,[6][7] particularly dealing with interventions for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder[8] and autism.[9] The MotivAider device was a precursor to the use of smartphones, wearables, and activity trackers for personal behavior modification.[6]

History

Development

Steve Levinson, a clinical psychologist and author, created the MotivAider in the 1980s.[10][11] After 16 years as the mental health director at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls, he came up with the idea for an electronic behavior prompting device after observing that even highly motivated people had trouble following through on their good intentions and could benefit from being reminded frequently of what they intended to do.[12] The initial prototype of a MotivAider device, which Levinson referred to as "an intention arousing device," consisted of a plastic soap dish containing off-the-shelf electronic and mechanical components.[12][4] Levinson spent over six years refining the concept and behavior change method before developing a serviceable prototype, which was a small, battery-powered device physically resembling a pager that was capable of vibrating at intervals programmed by a user. By mentally associating a personal message with the private vibration signal produced by the device, a user could be frequently reminded and urged to take an action necessary to achieve the user's chosen goal or objective.[4] Two of the development years were spent testing the device with people who had habits to break or desired behavior to encourage.[4][13] The device allowed a user to set intervals ranging from one minute to 24 hours.[12] The device has been likened to serving as a "private tap on the shoulder”.[10]

Early production

MotivAider device 1988
Original MotivAider device from 1988

The MotivAider device has been the sole product of Behavioral Dynamics, Incorporated—a privately held American company founded in 1987 and headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.[2][5] In the mid 1980s, after developing and testing crude prototypes of the MotivAider, Levinson recruited several associates to form the corporation: Daryl Johnson, a Minnesota business person; William Priedeman, a marketing consultant; and Dr. Ronald Young, the former medical director at the Minnesota Department of Human Services.[12] They raised $100,000 in 1987 from local investors and secured a $30,000 loan from the city of Thief River Falls to further develop, manufacture and begin selling MotivAider devices.[4][14] The first MotivAider devices hit the market in the fall of 1988.[12]

Influence

The device was the subject of a television infomercial in the 1990s,[15] and Levinson appeared on several television shows, most notably ABC's 20/20 program in 2002, to discuss the problem the MotivAider device was intended to address, which is the problem people commonly have acting in accord with their own good intentions.[16] The MotivAider device has been described as a precursor to standalone hardware products developed in the 2010s—such as KSafe, Pavlok, HabitAware, Upright Technologies, and Lumo Lift—for personal behavior modification.[10]

Later development

A mobile application released by Behavioral Dynamics in 2013, later updated as "Virtual MotivAider," was said to provide smartphone users with some of the benefits of the MotivAider device.[13] In 2019, Behavior Dynamics released a new model of the MotivAider device that included additional features and capabilities requested by behavior change professionals.[10]

Technology

The MotivAider is a small, battery-operated device that has been described as a "grey box" that physically resembles a pager.[17][10][3] The device can be set to vibrate at intervals from several seconds to 24 hours apart.[12] Later models can be set to vibrate at average and/or random intervals.[18] Vibration signals can be programmed to last from one to five seconds and at a chosen intensity and pattern. Users feel the silent pulsing vibration signal by wearing the device on a belt or waistband or carrying it in a pocket.[19] A small LCD screen displays the countdown to the next prompt.[3] A user adjusts the time interval and vibration signal properties by pressing buttons on the face of the device.[20]

The fifth generation MotivAider device measures 2 1⁄2 inches (63.5 mm) tall by 2 1⁄2 inches (63.5 mm) wide and 3⁄4 inch (19.1 mm) thick.[1] It weighs less than 3 ounces (85 g) including the battery and a removable metal clip.[1][3] The device is powered by a single AA battery and can accommodate a 1.5 volt AA lithium battery. The first two generations of the device were powered by a AAA battery.[1]

Usage

Follow through

The MotivAider device was originally developed to help patients follow through with medically prescribed self-care.[7][21] Private vibration signals were said to remind the user to stay focused on their intentions.[13] Soon after its release, the device was also used to promote mental rehearsal and to facilitate non-clinical types of behavior modification, including early notable use by professional tennis player Rosalyn Fairbank to improve her backstroke.[22] Other reported uses of the device included sports training, weight loss, smoking cessation, alleviating teeth grinding, and to facilitate treatment for stuttering.[21][23] The device was commonly used to remind and urge users to act on their resolutions or goals.[24][25]

Education settings

By the early 2000s, the MotivAider device gained acceptance in training and curricula for education professionals.[26] Teachers found they could use the device to help students self-monitor on-task behavior and to help themselves remember to give positive feedback.[27][3][18][28] Many classroom uses became the subject of empirical studies.[6] The device was shown to be effective in increasing classroom on-task performance of students with autism.[9] The device was also shown to be effective when used by caregivers and by children to improve the on-task performance of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[29][30]

See also

  • Behavior change method
  • Behavioural design
  • Lifestyle medicine
  • List of hospitals in Minnesota

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Behavioral Dynamics (2020). "Frequently Asked Questions". HabitChange.com. Retrieved on 27 June 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Better Business Bureau (2020). "Behavioral Dynamics Inc.". Product Development and Marketing. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Flaute, A.J., Peterson, S.M., Van Norman, R.K., Riffle, T. & Eakins, A. (2005). "Motivate Me! 20 Tips for Using a MotivAider(R) to Improve Your Classroom." Teaching Exceptional Children Plus. Vol. 2. No. 2. ISSN 1553-9318.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bailey, Ann (24 April 1987). "TRF inventor lets your conscience be electronic". Grand Forks Herald, p. 1A, 7A.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Behavioral Dynamics (2020). "About Behavioral Dynamics". HabitChange.com. Retrieved on 27 June 2020.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Luiselli, James K. and Fischer Aaron, J. (2016). "Computer-Assisted and Web-Based Innovations in Psychology, Special Education, and Health". Academic Press. p. 78, 111-112. ISBN 978-0-12-802075-3
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Schneider, Candae (28 January 1992). "Electronic string around the finger: Roseau teacher helps in testing the MotivAider". Roseau Times-Region. pp 1, 4.
  8. ↑ Summey, Connie (2018). "Self-Monitoring to Increase On-Task Behavior Using the MotivAider". East Tennessee State University. Retrieved on 30 June 2020.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Staff, D. (9 October 2014). "Simplifying the Science: Using a MotivAider to Self-Monitor". Different Roads to Learning. Retrieved on 30 June 2020.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Ellwood, Mark (25 January 2018). "Failed Your Resolutions Already? Time to Try a Habit-Breaking App". Bloomberg. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Gendal, Aaron (20 November 2019). "Following Through with Dr. Steve Levinson". Daily Authors (Podcast). Retrieved on 29 June 2020.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Fling, Shelly (August 1989). "Positive Vibes: A Thief River Falls inventor wants to help folks make the best of good intentions." Minnesota Monthly. p. 22.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Roche, Steve (10 September 2013). "Fixing the Design Flaw in Our Brains". Huffington Post (UK). Retrieved on 27 June 2020.
  14. ↑ Lundin, Marvin (8 August 1988). "Psychologist Invents Memory Aid Device." Thief River Falls Times. p. 1, 4.
  15. ↑ Caldwell, Jim (17 June 1998). "Levison’s MotivAider to be the Subject of Infomercial". Thief River Falls Times.
  16. ↑ Bakken, Ryan (10 December 2020). "TRF psychologist knows the buzz on self improvement". Grand Forks Herald. p. 1.
  17. ↑ Burkeman, Oliver (16 Mar 2007). "Gray Matter". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Hale-Evans, Ron (6 February 2006). "Mind Performance Hacks: Tips & Tools for Overclocking Your Brain". Toys as Tools. O'Reilly Media, Inc. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  19. ↑ Jellison, M.A. (2009). "The effects of the MotivAider on increasing the on‐task behavior of students who have been diagnosed with severe emotional disturbances". University of Illinois: Champaign.
  20. ↑ Behavioral Dynamics (2019). "The Gen5 MotivAider" User Guide. Retrieved on 30 June 2020.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Hutchison, Michael (2013). Mega Brain Power: Transform Your Life With Mind Machines and Brain Nutrients. Createspace Independent. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-49-282015-4
  22. ↑ Newlund, Sam (22 September 1988). "Good vibes: Gadget’s jiggles designed to jolt memory." Star Tribune.
  23. ↑ Schwartz, Martin (1991). Stutter No More. Simon & Schuster. pp. 64-65. ISBN 978-0-67-172612-6
  24. ↑ Dollar, Terry (5 January 2006). "Stossel: New Year's Resolutions". ABC News. Retrieved on 30 June 2020.
  25. ↑ Jolly, Jennifer (2 May 2016). "A Shocking Way (Really) to Break Bad Habits". New York Times. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  26. ↑ Cipani, Ennio (2004). "Classroom Management for All Teachers: 12 Plans for Evidence-Based Practices". University of the Pacific Press. pp. 30-33. ISBN 978-0-13-111832-4
  27. ↑ Choi, Jenn (19 August 2014). "What Cutting Edge Looks Like In A School". Forbes. Retrieved on 27 June 2020.
  28. ↑ Cron, Deanne A., Hawken,Leanne S., and Horner, Robert H. (2015). Building Positive Behavior Support Systems in Schools, Second Edition: Functional Behavioral Assessment. Guilford Publications. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-46-251972-9
  29. ↑ Staff, H. (18 December 2008). "Eight Principles to Manage ADHD Children". HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 27 June 2020.
  30. ↑ Carter, Jay (6 November 2011). "Changing ADHD Habits with the Motivaider". ADHD Weekly (Podcast). Retrieved on 27 June 2020.

Further reading

External links




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