Fielding faculty member Pamela Rutledge presents at eComm 2011

Emerging Communications Conference 2011
How Emerging Technologies are Increasing Intrinsic Motivation -- Pamela Rutledge

What do posting a YouTube video, texting a donation to the Red Cross, creating a Facebook profile or searching for a Halo 2 cheat have in common? They are self-motivated actions that provide immediate feedback and satisfy a basic human need to have an impact on the environment.

Every day people engage with the information they want, need, or enjoy based on the belief that they are able to get it and use it. By examining this simple assumption, we can understand how it has a profound psychological impact by shifting the locus of control to the user.

Not only does this redefine social contracts at all levels, it radically changes an individual's sense of competence, autonomy and relatedness, the critical factors that facilitate intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is the first step in the upward spiral that leads to engagement, flow, resilience, and creativity.

I want to share my excitement about the psychological potential of emerging technologies with the audience at eComm. Through thoughtful design, they can ignite a revolution in innovation, creativity, and learning.