The editable self: a workbench for personal activity data.

The many and varied personal activity trackers on the market have the potential to provide unprecedented detail and insight on our everyday activities. However, effective use and interpretation of data from them can be challenging due to common issues. Such issues include false readings due to sensing approaches taken, or missing data arising from a number of different causes. In order to understand user perceptions on this topic, we performed a preliminary survey, which found that users desired the ability to annotate, retroactively repair, and compare their data. Based on insights from this survey, we designed a direct-manipulation interface permitting the consolidated annotation and revision of activity data from multiple devices. A pilot study of this interface found that users understood readily how to use the features offered, and valued the ability to edit, yet preserve the provenance of their data.