Most research on the psychological impact of computers and the Internet has focused on the negative side of technology – i.e. how the use (abuse) of interactive systems and videogames can negatively affect mental health and behavior. On the other hand, less attention has been devoted to understanding how emerging technologies can promote optimal functioning at individual, group, and community levels. Integrating Technology in Positive Psychology Practice explores the various roles that technology can play in the development of psychological interventions aimed at helping people thrive. Exploring the ways in which ICT can be utilized to foster positive emotions, promote engagement in empowering activities, and support connectedness between individuals, groups, and communities, this timely publication is designed for use by psychologists, IT developers, researchers, and graduate students.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the potential role that digital technologies can play in promoting well-being. Smartphones, wearable devices, virtual/augmented reality, social media, and the internet provide a wealth of useful tools and resources to support psychological interventions that facilitate positive emotions, resilience, personal growth, creativity, and social connectedness. Understanding the full extent of this potential, however, requires an interdisciplinary approach that integrates the scientific principles of well-being into the design of e-experiences that foster positive change. This book provides an overview of recent advances and future challenges in Positive Technology, an emergent field within human-computer interaction that seeks to understand how interactive technologies can be used in evidence-based well-being interventions. Its focus of analysis is two-fold: at the theoretical level, Positive Technology aims to develop conceptual frameworks and models for understanding how computers can be effectively used to help individuals achieve greater well-being. At the methodological and applied level, Positive Technology is concerned with the design, development, and validation of digital experiences that promote positive change through pleasure, flow, meaning, competence, and positive relationships.

This volume presents clearly defined and described evidence-based positive psychology interventions (PPIs), which have been validated in multi-cultural contexts. It discusses validated PPIs which have been shown to have a significant impact in both clinical and real-world settings. From the late 1990s, there has been an upsurge in popular psychological “self-help” publications drawing from processes and principles of positive psychology. These publications are based on clinically validated PPI studies and translated in a “consumer friendly” manner. However, in these popular works the intervention methods are significantly altered from the original forms, and the contexts of the consumers are meaningfully different from those of the original study populations, the impact on outcome variables are often misinterpreted or over-inflated, and incorrect outcome variables are targeted. Original research articles also do not extensively discuss the content of the interventions, but merely present short descriptions of the PPI. As such, the intervention content cannot accurately be translated into practice. Hence, the need for this volume which discusses in depth how validated PPIs in various multi-cultural contexts work in both clinical and real-world settings.

Addiction is a powerful and destructive condition impacting large portions of the population around the world. While typically associated with substances such as drugs and alcohol, technology and gaming addiction have become a concern in recent years as technology use has become ubiquitous. Gaming and Technology Addiction: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice explores the social and psychological implications of technology and gaming addiction in addition to ways to manage and treat this unique form of addiction. Focusing on emerging research, case studies, and future outlooks, this comprehensive publication is an essential resource for psychologists, counselors, graduate-level students, and researchers studying psychology and technology use.

The Routledge Handbook of Positive Communication forms a comprehensive reference point for cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding the central role of communication in the construction of hedonic and eudemonic happiness,or subjective and psychological well-being. Including contributions from internationally recognized authors in their respective fields, this reference uses as its focus five main scenarios where communication affects the life of individuals: mass and digital media, advertising and marketing communication, external and internal communication in companies and organizations, communication in education, and communication in daily life interactions.

Like other large global corporations, the technology sector known as “Big Tech” possesses the money and power to disproportionately influence society. But so far, many of these companies have escaped scrutiny and regulation while enjoying the benefits of a relatively new—and not always understood—medium. Should social media companies be considered publishers, being held accountable for spreading misinformation? Does technology increase extremism and other harmful behaviors? Is it too late to change? The viewpoints in this volume explore the fascinating debate surrounding what responsibility Big Tech should take when it comes to upholding democratic principles.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the International Summit on Electronic Healthcare, eHealth 360°, held in Budapest, Hungary, in June 2016. The 55 revised full papers presented along with 9 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 81 submissions. The papers represent the latest results from the co-located conferences as the track on games for wellbeing, the track on wearables in healthcare, the track on personal, pervasive and mobile health, the track on IoT and big data technologies for healthcare, the track on mobile medical multimedia technologies, applications and services and the track on ambient assisted living technologies based on IoT.