A System to Visualize Quantified Self Data Using Avatars

Sammanfattning: In recent years, it is becoming more common for people to use applications or devices that keep track of their activities, such as fitness activities, places they visit, the music they listen to, and pictures they take. These data are used by the services for various purposes, but usually there are limitations for the users to explore or interact with them. This project investigates a new approach of visualizing such Quantified Self data, in a meaningful and enjoyable way that gives the users insights into their data. This thesis discusses the feasibility of creating a system that allows users to connect the activity tracking applications they already use, analyse the amount of activities, and then present the resulting information. The visualization of the information is done with an avatar that maps the different activities the user is engaged with, along with the activity levels, as graphical features. Within the scope of this work, several user studies were conducted and a system prototype was implemented to explore how to build, using web technologies, such a system that aggregates and analyses personal activity data, and also to determine what kind of data should and can be collected, to provide meaningful information to the users. Furthermore, it was investigated how a possible design for the avatar could look like, to be clearly understood by the users.