Investigating the expectations of a virtual social coach : a case of the Council of Coaches

This study is a part of the Council of Coaches (COUCH). COUCH exists of multiple virtual coaches that form a personal council that supports users in their health and well-being. Within the final demonstration of COUCH, 25 participants got the opportunity to get in touch with the virtual social coach, Emma, for four weeks. This study made it able to answer the following question: How could a virtual coach motivate older adults to maintain a vital social network? To answer the question, the study focused on the way in which the technology should be shaped and the required coaching characteristics. This study shows that motivation is a very important key factor to make it able to virtually coach participants. Motivation is depending on the necessity that people feel to change their behaviour and the experience of the process. There is a preference to be coached in an effective, efficient and goal-oriented way. It is recommended to design a technology that provides a threshold that is as low as possible and very easy to use with a high quantity of specific content with personal and goal-oriented sessions.. Speed of the system, triggers and short and clear pathways are key in this.