A short commentary on "Would John Dewey wear a fitbit? A pragmatist analysis of self-tracking technologies' impact on habit formation"
Abstract
This Poster was presented on the Symposium of the DiTraRe Leibniz Science Campus held in December 2025. It corresponds with a paper analyzing a publication by author M. Wieczorek. In this publication the author discusses the efficiency and potential risks of current technologies in self-trackers as tools meant to improve the life of its wearer. Wieczorek demands a human-centric approach to technology to improve the use and minimize the risks of the technology. We took this publication one step further by highlighting the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to research questions like the ones discussed by the original publication. We added imput especially from a legal standpoint.
Full text
A Short Commentary On: “Would John Dewey wear a Fitbit? A pragmatist analysis of self-tracking technologies’ impact on habit formation” current technologies in wearables do not achieve a habit development in the users, because of lack of data transparency, - amount and -access: No access to all the data collected, and only superficial insight compared to collector. The results displayed to the user are based on undisclosed calculations. Wearables usually do not collect enough data to enable meaningful reflection of the results. What’s been found: Our two cents: Fitbits as high-risk under the AIA? Subtile manipulation of sports habits: regulators vs ethical obligations of researchers and developers. Zliobaite’s ‘concept drift’ Data-driven models vs humans How to model data-driven sports technologies and how to interpret the obtained data by scientists. Poster created on www.canva.com. Juraj Sikra, Diana Dimitrova, Lea Sophie Singson think interdisciplinarily! Wieczoreks Theories Underlying problem is not static, changes over time. HUMAN-CENTRIC APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY