Waterbot is one of the prototypes developed by Ernesto Arroyo, Leonardo Bonanni and Ted Selker of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Media Laboratory to explore how devices could alter behaviour at the sink.

Waterbot uses visual and auditory reminders, such as changes in colour, simple graphic displays and gentle chimes, to help users track their water usage and encourage them to conserve water by turning off the tap when it is not in use. <View the final Design Concept>

To test the effectiveness of this device in altering user behaviour and promoting water conservation the project team observed people using the prototype fitted to an ordinary sink.
<Read more about the Prototype Testing and Evaluation>

Their findings showed that explicit just-in-time prompts at the point of use was beneficial in encouraging behaviour change, as was the use of adaptive and responsive positive and negative reinforcements. They also found that by varying the frequency and type of reinforcement they increased the spontaneity of the interactions made and in doing so reduced predictability and irritation.

For further information on Waterbot read: Arroyo, E., Bonanni, L. and Selker, T. (2005) Waterbot: Exploring Feedback and Persuasive Techniques at the Sink, In: CHI 2005, Portland, Oregon, USA, 2nd - 7th April 2005