
01
About
With sedentarism on the rise, Singaporeans are being diagnosed with chronic diseases (National Population Health Survey, 2020). A study conducted by Fonterra found that 63% of Singaporeans do not exercise more than 3 times a week, making Singaporeans the most inactive in Southeast Asia. Yet 7 in 10 wished they had more time to exericse.
A research collaboration between SUTD, MOHT, and Boon Lay grassroots to conduct a behavioural needs assessment in Boon Lay to:
1. Understand the environmental assets
2. Identify salient health behaviours across various target groups
3. Understand perceptions among residents
4. Inform future interventions to support healthy lifestyles
Our study has found that the 3 main causes of inactivity are attributed to: a) lack of time, b) the perception that exercise is difficult, and c) the unwillingness to go out of their way to exercise.
Using data analytics, gamification techniques, and innovative urban design strategies, RECHARGE is a prototype that leverages existing waiting spaces by transforming them into opportunities for physical activities by bringing fitness stations to them.
RECHARGE seeks to break 150 - 300 minutes of moderate activity in a week (Recommended guidelines by Health Promotion Board 2022) into manageable bite-size opportunities, nudging residents' behaviours towards active living and health ownership.
02
What is Recharge?
03
Background of Recharge

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH BOON LAY
We conducted engagement sessions to understand resident perception towards physical activity, healthy eating and rest using q-method.

RESIDENT PERSONA
Based on the identified behavioural trend and motivations, we profiled residents into different groups represented by persona.
Profiles of Selected Archetypes representative of the 3 demographic groups: Tracy, Aishah and Wei Jie

HOW DID RECHARGE COME ABOUT
From the Behavioural Needs Assessment in Boon Lay, we developed 16 recommendations, among which Recharge was ranked as a top choice by the Boon Lay community and has yielded high implementation potential.
04
How does Recharge work?

05
FAQ
What is this research about?
A research conducted by Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), to investigate:
1) how urban design and gamification encourages health awareness and active living
2) how participants participate in self-monitoring of their health,
3) and how data collected contributes to recognizable health patterns.
What does this study consist of?
There will be 3 parts to the study:
1) Participant Profiling: To take a quiz to understand you better
2) Participate in trial run: Use our prototypes (Recharge) to exercise while waiting at the bus stop and check your data of our usage via our online portal
3) Post trial run survey: Take the survey after the trial run to see how it benefits you
Who can participate?
Any individuals who meet the following criteria can participate in this research:
- 18 - 75 years old
- Singapore Residents [Singapore Citizens (SC) and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR)]
- Healthy adults (Physical activities not inhibited by any physical disabilities which revolve around impairments of movement, sight, or hearing)
- Residents of Boon Lay
How long will this study run for?
Expected duration of:
Part 1: approximately 30 minutes
Part 2: approximately 2 weeks
Part 3: approximately 30 minutes
Urban Cluster 2.605
Singapore University of Technology and Design
8 Somapah Road
Singapore 487372