Abstract
My technical project and my STS research paper both focus on two different aspects of
habit tracking apps. The STS paper looks at how these apps affect people, while the technical
project focuses on how they are designed. When I look at them together, it becomes clear that the
way these apps are built directly connects to how users experience them.
In my STS research paper, I look at how habit-tracking apps are not just simple tools and
they shape how people think about self-improvement and progress. Features like streaks and
reminders make users focus on being consistent and completing tasks. This seems helpful at first,
but it can also shift attention away from why the habit matters in the first place and users may
start focusing more on just checking things off. This shows that the design of the app influences
behavior and not just tracks it.
This connects to ideas like Foucault’s concept of self-discipline and the Social
Construction of Technology (SCOT). Users are not being forced to follow habits, but they start
monitoring themselves and eventually feel responsible for staying consistent. SCOT also
explains that these apps are designed based on certain values, like productivity and efficiency.
That is why many apps focus on streaks and measurable progress, because they assume that users
want to see visible results.
For my technical project, I designed a habit-tracking app that focuses more on flexibility
and user well-being instead of strict performance. Instead of using strong streak systems my app
uses gentle reminders and overall progress tracking to support users. This was an intentional
choice because my STS research showed that pressure-based systems can make users feel
discouraged. So instead of making users feel like they failed my design allows them to continue
without as much pressure.
We can also see that social understanding can influence technical design. Through SCOT,
it becomes clear that what developers value leads to different types of technology. Many existing
apps reflect a culture that values productivity and consistency, so they are designed to push users
toward those goals. My app reflects a slightly different approach by focusing more on balance
and long-term growth. Even small design choices can change how users feel when using the app.
It is also hard to completely separate the app from the larger culture. Even though my app
is designed to be more flexible, it still exists in a system where productivity is important. Users
may still think about progress in terms of completion, which shows that technology and society
are always connected, and design alone cannot fully change how people think.
Another important connection between my STS paper and technical project is motivation.
In my STS research, I explain that many habit-tracking apps rely on extrinsic motivation, like
rewards and streaks. This can work in the short term, but over time it can reduce intrinsic
motivation, which is when people do something because it actually matters to them. My app tries
to avoid this by creating a system that feels more encouraging instead of forcing users to
perform. The goal is to help users stay consistent in a way that feels natural, rather than
something they must keep up with.
Looking at both pieces together shows that habit-tracking apps are more than just tools
for organization. They shape how people think about success, progress, and even themselves. My
STS research helped me understand the problems in existing systems, and my technical project
enabled me to apply those ideas in a practical way. This shows that technical work and social
analysis are not separate but actually depend on each other.
