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Elizabeth Fais, Odenplan, Piano Stairs, Science of Fun, Stockholm, The Fun Theory, Volkswagen Initiative
The Fun Theory
Yes, I’m happy to say there is such a thing. The Fun Theory follows the simple premise that…
Making something fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better.
In Odenplan, Stockholm, The Fun Theory was applied to stairs in order to entice people to exercise, rather than riding the escalator.
The exercise we get by taking the stairs (instead of the escalator) makes us feel better. But how many people follow that common-sense rule? The short answer: Not many.
Here, The Fun Theory challenge was to get more people to take the stairs by making it “fun”.
- The tactic: Turn a regular staircase into a Piano Staircase. Just like in the movie Big, except the piano keys are real stairs.
- The results: 66% more people took the Piano Stairs (rather than the escalator).
The Fun Theory works!
The following video demonstrates The Fun Theory in action. See how a little ingenuity creates “fun” that improves lives.
What chore would you want to make FUN?
Who knows? You could become the next Fun Theory winner!
Check out The Fun Theory web site for other amazing examples of the Science of Fun at work!
Elizabeth Fais 
I’ll put my favorite music on, have a favorite snack or beverage, or do something completely out of the ordinary just to make a dreary chore or task more appealing. Not too long ago I was given a vital but extremely BORING job to do at work. To make it less awful, I now listen to the radio show Cabin Pressure on my iPhone while I’m doing the task. Doing so hasn’t made it exactly fun, but I don’t mind it nearly as much when I’m listening to dear Benedict through my headphones. 🙂
Music has a way of making anything more fun. As does listening to comedy shows featuring a certain British actor. 😉
Those stairs are pretty cool…and yeah, just about anything’s better if it’s made fun. Possibly doesn’t extend to cleaning up a sink full of dirty dishes though… I’d like to make that more fun than it actually is (not quite sure how yet). 🙂
Listening to good music could help make dish washing more fun. Or as Tami discovered, listening to a funny radio show while doing a boring task. 😉
That is awesome! They should have stairs like that everywhere. Of course, I would probably try to play a fancy tune and kill myself ~ but at least it would be fun 😉
I think they would have had to come and pull me off those stairs!
If they had them everywhere, I’d never get anywhere. 😉
Haha…that is pretty cool 🙂
I know! It would be fun to have real piano stairs in your house.
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