Positive Technology, Computing, and Design: Shaping a Future in Which Technology Promotes Psychological Well-Being

More and more of our daily activities depend on some kind of inter-active device or digital service. Furthermore, the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is not limited to the long hours that we spend at the office. Computers and other digital devices have become regular companions in our daily lives, but have they made us any happier? Interestingly, the majority of psychological studies on the impact of technologies on well-being have focused on their potential negative effects, including investigations into cyber addiction, techno-stress, violent video-games, privacy risks, etc. On the other side, less attention has been paid to the question of how interactive digital systems could be used to improve well-being of individuals and groups. Designing for digital experience that promotes psychological knowledge and theory relating to those factors known to make life more fulfilling, with the technological expertise required to turn these factors into practical services and applications. The aim of this chapter is to introduce the concepts of Positive Technology and Positive Computing and examine some illustrative approaches. We will first introduce the field of positive psychology and examine key theoretical models. Next, we will discuss the objectives and main application areas of these design approaches. Last, we will consider some key challenges and future research directions for this emergent interdisciplinary area.