HomeTree – An Art Inspired Mobile Eco-feedback Visualization

This paper presents HomeTree a prototype of an art-inspired mobile eco-feedback system. The system is implemented on a tablet PC and relies on a non-intrusive energy-monitoring infrastructure to access consumption and power event information. Our prototype addresses an important problem in eco-feedback, which is the fact that users loose interest about their energy consumption after a period of several weeks. To accomplish this HomeTree implements a dual visualization strategy. Initially HomeTree presents users with a screensaver that shows energy consumption mapped in a dynamic illustration of the local forest. Through this strategy we leverage the emotional connection between the short-term energy consumption and the long-term effects on nature through the local depicted landscape. In a second mode of operation users can interact with HomeTree directly by checking the historical records of their consumption data, and check which days or weeks they have reduced or increased consumption. Furthermore a comparison with a more objective baseline, such as the city of Funchal energy consumption is provided, in order to give users a sense of the level of their consumption in a wider context.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute, University of Madeira, Caminho da Penteada, Funchal, 9020-105, Madeira, Portugal

   Filipe Quintal, Valentina Nisi, Nuno Nunes, Mary Barreto & Lucas Pereira

Editors and Affiliations

1. Human Media Interaction, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB, Enschede, The Netherlands

   Anton Nijholt  & Dennis Reidsma  & 

2. CITI, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Quinta da Torre, Universidade Nove de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

   Teresa Romão

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