News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Choosing happiness by yawnxyz on Sunday September 11, 2022 @10:40PM (#32805454)
Coming from UX and game design, so many app designers try to "gamify" things like running, lifting, and cleaning.

Adding gamification adds a short-lived hedonic happiness hit that doesn't last very long. Sometimes we'll see articles about "making apps delightful" by adding a shiny button to an app that looks great when you hit "task complete". By the 100th time you click that button, that hit will have worn off.

Gamification works as a crutch at best. Instead, designers should really aim for the "eudaimonic" side of the task. E.g. your room is now clean. Or a workout app could help users better keep track of their strength / ability to lift heavier / better form over time, and reflect on their improvements. These will make users feel a lot more gratification.

Re:Choosing happiness by andreareina on Monday September 12, 2022 @01:19AM (#32806363)
Sometimes it takes time to cultivate intrinsic motivation. Gamification can get you over that hump.
Re:Choosing happiness by dasz on Monday September 12, 2022 @03:03AM (#32806951)
I've moved on from gamification and thoroughly removed all such interventions from everything. I found the extrinsic nature of the mechanisms wasn't helping and were creating a distraction in and of themselves.

Metrics are generally overrated in my view. The ones that matter really matter but the rest are just noise that slows and obfuscates.

Re:Choosing happiness by freahsteaksauce on Sunday September 25, 2022 @04:00PM (#32975414)
What metrics matter?
Re:Choosing happiness by alexslobodnik on Monday September 12, 2022 @03:39AM (#32807189)
the initial hit of delight can help folks work through the parts of the app that are deficient.

give value as soon as possible.