Recently, I’ve been immersed in a project that’s translating the science of happiness into a compelling, habit-forming digital service. I’ve been digging into the scientific literature on positive psychology and neuroscience correlates, and learning about the activities the reliably make people happier – and unhappier. It’s been illuminating – and tremendously helpful in my personal life. […]

  I’ve been enjoying this lively Branch discussion around points, levels, and leaderboards in social software – and even more this thoughtful response by Tom Tunguz of Redpoint, who added a much-needed “over time” perspective to the discussion. When I engage with Web developers building digital services, the most common mistake they make is thinking about their social […]

What do Kickstarter, Minecraft, Rock Band, CodeForAmerica, and Foldit have in common? They’re leading examples of games and services that enrich people’s lives through collaboration and collective action. People are quitting Facebook and opting-out of spammy social games because they’re tired of being manipulated and distracted by software that shortens their attention span and lowers […]

As a social game designer, it’s my business to design systems that drive sustained engagement. But when does engagement spill over into addiction? Usually that happens when someone does something TO EXCESS – and that activity has a negative impact on their lives. Most people who play World of Warcraft, League of Legends, or Candy Crush […]

We live in a world filled with increasingly powerful digital distractions: immersive online games, addictive social feeds, endless texts & notifications, Gamification Everywhere – we’re surrounded by software that’s designed to grab our attention and keep us hooked. But we humans are adapting to these new and powerful forms of stiimulation. There’s a growing movement […]