High-Tech Mirror from Accenture Offers Look into the Future; Encourages Healthier Lifestyle by Showing Consequences of an Unhealthy One

The device - known as the Persuasive Mirror - stems from anAccenture research initiative aimed at developing technologies thatencourage people to maintain healthy lifestyles in order to avoidobesity and related health problems. Plans call for it to be used inupcoming research studies at the University of California, San Diego(UCSD).

"We see great potential in using the technology available via thePersuasive Mirror not only to assess body image but also to determinehow body image might be used to affect positive behavioral change,"said Jeannie Huang, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor in residence atUCSD.

Dr. Huang is also a member of PACE (www.paceproject.org), amultidisciplinary research consortium of more than 40 professionalsthat conducts a broad array of research aimed at developing tools tohelp health professionals help their patients make and sustain healthychanges in physical activity, diet and other lifestyle behaviors.

The mirror was developed at Accenture Technology Labs in SophiaAntipolis, France, where researchers strive to embed technologies intoordinary household items, thereby allowing users to gain valuablehealth information just by going about their daily activities.

Accordingly, the prototype was built to look like a standardbathroom mirror. Operation requires that users do nothing more thanlook at their "reflections." But the operational simplicity belies thedevice's complex technology.

The "mirror" uses two cameras placed on the sides of a flat-paneldisplay and combines video streams from both cameras to obtain arealistic replication of a mirror reflection. Advanced imageprocessing and proprietary software are used to visually enhance theperson's reflection.

Couch Potatoes Beware

The mirror is fed information from webcams and sensing devicesplaced around the house, including images of everyday activities. Forexample, the monitoring system can be configured to spot visits to therefrigerator, treadmill usage, or time spent on the coach.

Software analyzes the data to determine behavior - be it healthyor unhealthy - and how behavior, including overeating, will influencefuture appearance, including obesity. As a result, a sedentary person,for example, can see his face growing fat before his eyes.

The Persuasive Mirror can also be configured to accept otherhealth-related data. For instance, it can show the consequences of toomuch time spend in the sun, or calculate the benefits of data providedby devices such as a pedometer worn during a brisk walk or run. Futureiterations will also calculate the effects of other unhealthybehaviors such as drinking, smoking or drug use.

"One of the key solutions experts identify for solving the growingproblems caused by poor diet, including obesity, inactivity andsmoking is a change in personal habits," said Martin Illsley, directorof the Sophia Antipolis facility, one of three research labs operatedby Accenture. "This led us to think about using technology as apersuasion tool, specifically how technology can be used to create thekind of motivation and personal awareness that will change unwantedbehaviors."

This is known as the science of captology, defined as the study ofcomputers as persuasive technologies. It includes the design, researchand analysis of interactive computing products created for the purposeof changing people's attitudes or behaviors.

Illsley and his team concluded that for any technology dealingwith diet and exercise habits to be persuasive, it needed to be highlyvisual. They realized that a mirror that projects the image of how theindividual's face and body will look in the future if habits are poor- or, conversely, improve - could best drive home the point.

"We monitor the individual's habits in terms of diet and exerciseand whether or not they smoke or spend time in the sun. And byfocusing on the face and body, visually project how he or she willlook in the near future," said Illsley. "The image can punish them ifthey have not taken good care of themselves, or can reward them ifthey are following healthy diet plans and have begun to lose weight."

Intelligent Home Services

The mirror fits into Accenture Technology Labs initiative calledIntelligent Home Services that merges sensor technologies andartificial intelligence to enable a new class of assistivetechnologies. It makes use of cameras to track activity and artificialintelligence techniques to learn habits automatically so thatdeviations can be spotted.

Previous prototypes have demonstrated how emerging technologies inthe home can bring prolonged independence to the elderly, create achannel for new services and help businesses and governments addressthe challenge of the aging population.

All of the prototypes offer practical benefits to business. In thecase of the mirror, which took 18 months to build, Illsley seespotential benefits for companies in such industries aspharmaceuticals, health care services and insurance.

"While applications exist for entering a photo of an individualand seeing how he or she is expected to look years later, such asthose used to find missing children, this concept is completelydifferent. We are not aware of another company or research firm thathas done anything similar," said Illsley.

Illsley cautions that input and monitoring from medical experts isessential. "That's one reason we're so excited about working UCSD. Bycollaborating with them, we can take this prototype to the next stageand ensure that further development takes place with medicalexpertise. This will ensure the technologies we have identified areused to help people improve their lifestyle in the best way possible."

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology servicesand outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenturecollaborates with its clients to help them become high-performancebusinesses and governments. With deep industry and business processexpertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenturecan mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help clientsimprove their performance. With more than 129,000 people in 48countries, the company generated net revenues of US$15.55 billion forthe fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2005. Its home page iswww.accenture.com.