Sunday, May 28, 2023

Nagging vs Encouraging

A message comes in…

Alec: What’s that message on your watch?

Stanley: It says “Stand up.” After I walk around for a minute it will praise me and say “Well done.”

Alec: Is that nagware?

Stanley: Not really. Nagware is usually used as a marketing technique to encourage users to buy a product or upgrade. Sometimes it’s regarded as pushy or a negative experience. This is a health tracker so the messaging is more encouraging than nagging.

Alec: Uh huh. So It’s supposed to support the watch wearer’s exertions?

Stanley: It’s supposed to be motivational, prompting users to track their progress, stay hydrated, get enough sleep.

__________

Voice-over

What might be seen as encouragement by one person might be regarded as nagging by another. People have different thresholds for what they regard as encouraging or intrusive.

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