David W. McDonald

Papers

Total Citations

400

H-Index

About

David W. McDonald is a leading researcher in human-computer interaction, with a particular focus on personal informatics, mobile computing, and social awareness systems. His most-cited work, "Flowers or a robot army?" (2008, 400 citations), is a landmark field experiment that fundamentally shaped the study of personal displays for self-monitoring. By investigating how mobile phone screens could be leveraged to improve awareness of daily life—specifically physical activity—McDonald demonstrated that the design and framing of feedback (e.g., aesthetic vs. utilitarian) critically influence user engagement and behavior change. This contribution helped establish the empirical foundations for modern personal informatics and persuasive technology. Beyond this seminal paper, McDonald’s broader research explores how social and mobile systems can foster awareness, collaboration, and reflection. His work is widely cited across HCI, ubiquitous computing, and health informatics, reflecting its lasting impact on both academic theory and practical design. For students and researchers, McDonald’s research offers essential insights into how we can design technology that not only collects data but meaningfully supports human understanding and action.