Innovative Wellness App "Ari" Transforming USC's Wellbeing Landscape
Ilene Rosenstein, Ph.D.
Lyndsey Christoffersen, Ph.D
Campus Wellness & Education
Skip Rizzo, Ph.D.
Kelly Christoffersen
Institute for Creative Technologies
Ask Ari is USC’s interactive app providing
custom-tailored, evidence-based
information, resources and referrals that
promote whole-person wellbeing
Meet Ari
❖
Topics sleep, stress, mood, healthy communication,
thriving, life skills/organization, cognitive distortions,
relationships, and career
❖
Partnership: Campus Wellbeing & Education, Institute for
Creative Technology, and the Office of the Provost
❖
Conceived and created at USC for USC
❖
Started in 2017
Meet Ari
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Ari engages in dialogue with the user and, based on their responses, offers:
❖
Tools and prompts for self-reflection and self-awareness
❖
Relevant, research-based information for further exploration
❖
Referrals to appropriate local, online or campus resources
Why Ask Ari
►
Connect to self
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Self-reflection to better understand their issues and concerns
►
Increase easy access to research-supported educational information
on well-being (Schultz & Nakamoto, 2013)
►
Connect to community
►
Those with mental illness may be reluctant to go to help; artificial
intelligence technologies, like Ask Ari, serve as a gateway (Lucas et
al., 2014, 2017; Rizzo & Koenig, 2017)
►
Faculty and staff can refer to Ask Ari gateway
►
Connect to USC
►
Better communicate USC resources
►
Communicate when to use USC resources
►
Technology based on years of peer reviewed research at ICT
Why Ask Ari
Key Benefits
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Privacy – no judgment
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Convenience – available anytime, anywhere
❖
Access to a vast knowledge base – evidence-based
information, as well as apt referrals
❖
More than information:
❖
Intelligence – Ari is more like a concierge than an assistant,
offering recommendations for further exploration, not just a list
of search results
Major Findings
93%
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89%
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Average
Usage
Overview
DEMO
Major Findings
13.04%
It was informative and
interactive! I was impressed
by the knowledge database. I
also liked the range of topics
and all of the referrals it
made.
It was helpful to ask
someone questions
from the comfort of
my bed. It is easier
to talk to a virtual
human under certain
circumstances
.
I liked that it was honest and provided
feedback on general statements such as
"break ups". Not many automatic systems
can relate to that and detect that and
further provide feedback on the topic.
Features: Technology
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• Standards Compliant ::
ADA Section 508, W3C Validated
Responsive Design ::
Mobile, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop
Dynamic Menu ::
Follows Conversation Topic
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• Change Sets ::
551 Revisions Committed (~6/Week)
• Code & Markup ::
100,000 lines edits (~135/Day)
Features: Technology
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Multimodal Input ::
Menu, Prompt, Text, Voice
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Multimedia Output ::
Text, Voice, Animation
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Message Controls ::
Single Mode, Fast Forward
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Language Controls ::
32 Languages; Input & Output
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Text to Speech ::
Runtime Generated; Configurable
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Feedback Dialog ::
Documents User Expectations
Cutting-edge wellness app "Ari" developed by USC engages users through tailored information, self-reflection tools, and referrals. With a focus on holistic wellbeing, it addresses student reluctance to seek help, promoting self-awareness, and facilitating access to resources. "Ari" offers privacy, convenience, and intelligence akin to a personal concierge, providing evidence-based information and recommendations for further exploration.
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Presentation Transcript
Ilene Rosenstein, Ph.D. Lyndsey Christoffersen, Ph.D Campus Wellness & Education Skip Rizzo, Ph.D. Kelly Christoffersen Institute for Creative Technologies
Meet Ari Ask Ari is USC s interactive app providing custom-tailored, evidence-based information, resources and referrals that promote whole-person wellbeing
Meet Ari Topics sleep, stress, mood, healthy communication, thriving, life skills/organization, cognitive distortions, relationships, and career Partnership: Campus Wellbeing & Education, Institute for Creative Technology, and the Office of the Provost Conceived and created at USC for USC Started in 2017
Why Ask Ari The Problem: In USC s hyper-competitive environment, students may feel uncomfortable seeking out professional help for issues surrounding their wellbeing. Students want to improve their lives and engage with their community but need the knowledge, skills, and resources to do so. The Solution: Ari engages in dialogue with the user and, based on their responses, offers: Tools and prompts for self-reflection and self-awareness Relevant, research-based information for further exploration Referrals to appropriate local, online or campus resources
Why Ask Ari Connect to self Self-reflection to better understand their issues and concerns Increase easy access to research-supported educational information on well-being (Schultz & Nakamoto, 2013) Connect to community Those with mental illness may be reluctant to go to help; artificial intelligence technologies, like Ask Ari, serve as a gateway (Lucas et al., 2014, 2017; Rizzo & Koenig, 2017) Faculty and staff can refer to Ask Ari gateway Connect to USC Better communicate USC resources Communicate when to use USC resources Technology based on years of peer reviewed research at ICT
Key Benefits Privacy no judgment Convenience available anytime, anywhere Access to a vast knowledge base evidence-based information, as well as apt referrals More than information: Intelligence Ari is more like a concierge than an assistant, offering recommendations for further exploration, not just a list of search results
Major Findings 93% More knowledgeable about how to take care of myself 89% The information provided was helpful to me
Time on Ask Ari: 15 Minutes Utilization: Twice 7 Questions, 3 Topics Average Usage Overview Top 5 Questions Asked: 1. What can I do to focus? I m having a hard time focusing. 2. How do I deal with academic/exam stress? 3.What are some sleep guidelines? 4. What are some tips for dealing with stress? 5. How do I get to bed on time?
Major Findings 13.04%
I liked that it was honest and provided feedback on general statements such as "break ups". Not many automatic systems can relate to that and detect that and further provide feedback on the topic. It was helpful to ask someone questions from the comfort of my bed. It is easier to talk to a virtual human under certain circumstances. It was informative and interactive! I was impressed by the knowledge database. I also liked the range of topics and all of the referrals it made.
Features: Technology Interface Refinements Standards Compliant :: ADA Section 508, W3C Validated Responsive Design :: Mobile, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop Dynamic Menu :: Follows Conversation Topic Guided Overview:: Interface Usage Recent Development Change Sets :: 551 Revisions Committed (~6/Week) Code & Markup :: 100,000 lines edits (~135/Day)
Features: Technology Added Features Multimodal Input :: Menu, Prompt, Text, Voice Multimedia Output :: Text, Voice, Animation Message Controls :: Single Mode, Fast Forward Language Controls :: 32 Languages; Input & Output Text to Speech :: Runtime Generated; Configurable Feedback Dialog :: Documents User Expectations
