Informatics in Behavioral Medicine: Possible Implementations in User-Device Interaction

Smartphones have become deeply integrated into daily life, offering constant connectivity, convenience, and access to information. however, alongside these benefits, a growing body of research points to harmful effects associated with excessive and compulsive use. Physical issues such as musculoskeletal strain and eye fatigue, along with psychological concerns like anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and attention problems, are becoming increasingly linked to problematic smartphone behavior. The severity of the issue is now such that clinical tools like the Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) have been developed to assess the condition, underscoring its recognition as a legitimate public health concern. Traditional interventions-ranging from digital wellness apps to screen time limits, have shown only limited success, often falling short due to lack of personalization, low adherence, and the general tendency to bypass them after implementation. This paper proposes two informatics-driven strategies designed to interrupt habitual device use in subtle, non-intrusive ways: Delayed Response Input, which introduces brief feedback delays to disrupt the instant-reward loop, and Memory Recall Interruption, which asks users to reflect on their intentions before proceeding. Both interventions aim to slow down impulsive interaction patterns, increase user awareness, and ultimately reduce mindless screen time.