| Abstract [eng] |
The users` experiences of physical activity apps specifically, smart watches, sports app "Strava" and bicycle computers are studied in the master's thesis "The Body Conception of Physical Activity Apps Users". The problem of this work arises from the fact that the media is used to increase the use of selftracking tools. The literature review has shown that some researchers indicate changes in the relation of physical activity apps users with their bodies or the influence of physical activity apps on users' specific perceptions of the body, but this is not discussed further. For this reason, the question arises ‒ what relation with users body do physical activity apps form or maintain? It is interesting, that this issue is quite complex, it combines both technology, peculiarities of consumption and consumer`s bodies. The aim of this work was to determine what relation with the body is formed and maintained by physical activity apps. In order to achieve the goal of the work, the following tasks were set: firstly to perform an analysis of the literature and to find what relation with the body can be formed by means of self-traking, that is by using physical activity apps. Then, based on the analysis of the literature and taking into account the design elements in the selected physical activity apps, construct a methodological approach suitable to find the answer to the problematic research question. Lastly, empirically determine the relation of the body with the selected physical activity apps. In total 12 interviews were conducted. They are analyzed using a thematic analysis of the content. The structure of this thesis is as follows: at the beginning the theoretical basis is presented, which is important for the analysis of the data obtained during the interview. Then the aim of the empirical study, the objectives on which the specific methodological approach was based and the criteria of selecting the informants, the data collection, the data analysis and the role of the researcher are introduced in the research. Lastly, the obtained research results and interpretations are presented. Finally, the conclusions provide a comprehensive answer to the problematic issue of the work. The research concluded that users of physical activity apps form or maintain a mechanical relation with their body. In the predominance of this type of relation, the body is seen as an object that has certain characteristics and is a help to achieve personal goals. The results of the research, which support this conclusion, are particularly significant for both those who already use physical activity apps and those who are still planning to use them, as there is a possibility of encountering optimization of physical activity, which may not be desirable. This research is different because it analyzes the users` experiences of various physical activity apps. The research participants` choice to use more than one physical activity app was noticed during their selection. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct self-traking researches even more complex, including all physical activity apps, comparing them with each other in the future. |
