The Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab creates insight into how computing products — from websites to mobile phone software — can be designed to change what people believe and what they do.

Yes, this can be a scary topic: machines designed to influence human beliefs and behaviors. But there’s good news. We believe that much like human persuaders, persuasive technologies can bring about positive changes in many domains, including health, business, safety, and education. We also believe that new advances in technology can help promote world peace in 30 years. With such positive ends in mind, we are creating a body of expertise in the design, theory, and analysis of persuasive technologies, an area called “captology.”

By arriving at this page, you’ve reached the main website for our research lab, directed by Dr. BJ Fogg. On this site you’ll find an overview of captology, learn about examples, have access to captology resources, and be invited to receive our lab’s free newsletter. We also share some insights in our blog, Captology Notebook.

If you want to watch persuasive technology in action, go to Captology TV. This site has dozens of short videos showing how companies use the web today to influence people’s thoughts and behaviors.

An overview of captology

Captology is the study of computers as persuasive technologies. This includes the design, research, and analysis of interactive computing products created for the purpose of changing people’s attitudes or behaviors. As the graphic shows, captology describes the area where computing technology and persuasion overlap.

This area continues to grow quickly. Each week more computing products, including websites, are designed to change what people think and do. We expect this trend to continue, especially as mobile phones become more capable of running software from third parties and the Internet.

Captology is global

Beginning at Stanford in the 1990s, the study of persuasive technology is now a global area of research and design. In the early days, we were doing research, conducting classes, and organizing events at Stanford. But we did not organize the first global conference. We appreciate our colleagues at the Eindhoven University of Technology for organizing this in 2006: First International Conference on Persuasive Technology for Human Well-Being. Since then, the conference has been an annual event, bringing together researchers and practitioners from around the world:
Stanford University hosted the 2007 International Conference on Persuasive Technology.

Oulu University and Aalborg University hosted the 2008 International Conference on Persuasive Technology.

Claremont College will host the 2009 International Conference on Persuasive Technology.

More on the Stamford Captlogy site

Notice (1) that hardly a word has been spoken in the mainstream media about this. Why? Probably because the outrage it would/will create. And, as so many times before, the “real” news that really matters seem to perpetually escape the GPE controlled mainstream media. In effect; the general population don’t have a clue about what is in store for them.. big time!

Notice (2) Codex Alimentarius has been in development during at least 40 years! For the insiders this is old news. By gradual and hard to detect small steps (incl. controlling the media), much of  the Codex is already implemented (like the FDA raising the allowed minimum levels of pesticides in food etc.). One of the final steps will, supposedly, be reached by DEC 31, 2009. Then the Globalisation is almost reached. Question is: Can we still avoid the Codex to become LAW? (If you Google this you’ll find over 1000 more or less informed pages…)

So another question arising (among quite a few…) is: how much more b.s. will people accept before they realize the con? If this doesn’t wake up the sleeping ones what will?

Recommended Article 1 [dprogram.net]
Codex Alimentarius summarized in 7 points is a recent “must read” article that seriously issues the soon upcoming Codex Alimentarius, scheduled for full global implementation on December 31st, 2009. The implementations are vast and should concern everyone.

Recommended Article 2 [naturalnews.com]
Codex (Alimentarius) Threatens Health of Billions is another very well sourced article by Barbara L.Minton. She explains some of the extremely important medical and nutritional aspects. As well as she goes into the background development and clarifies the almost clandestine activities that WHO, WTO and the Codex have been working on since over 40 years. The trace undoubtedly leads us back to the Nazi era in Germany and the liquidation of the then biggest chemical pharmaceutical corporation in the world, I.G. Farben, Hermann Schmitz (Farben produced the gas used in the Nazi gas chambers).

Recommended Article 3 [therapure.com]
Codex Alimentarius and What It Means To You, article By Jackie Buchanan, long time medical researcher and writer, introduces us to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and the orchestrated effort being made by pharmaceutical companies to control the manufacture, distribution and sale of all natural food supplements – world-wide. The whole thing would be a laughable joke except for one thing . . . it’s no joke and the plan has already been implemented.

Recommended Website
Nocodexgenocide.com International Advocates for Health Freedom was started in 1996 by John C. Hammell, Legislative Advocate, to catalyse global opposition to a pharma driven effort to ban consumer access to vitamins and minerals within the therapeutic range via the UN’s Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Take Action [Here] Several ways to actively do something about this problem [Nocodexgenocide.com]

Sign the Petition [Here] One of a few ongoing petitions on [Care2 Thepetitionsite.com]

More in depth info links
(as found on the original article page):
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Vitamins/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhApQ3QkG0Q&feature=related
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5266884912495233634
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2D4-noTiCg
http://www.anhcampaign.org/campaigns/codex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Alimentarius

From Wikipedia:

Much of the controversy relates to the way in which the Codex Alimentarius treats vitamin and mineral food supplements. Some countries categorize vitamin and mineral supplements as a food. Others, however, categorize them as drugs. Meanwhile, some countries, such as Canada, have created separate non-drug categories for these products. Opponents of the Codex Alimentarius Commission claim that it is unduly influenced by pharmaceutical companies, and that its guidelines for vitamin and mineral food supplements are unnecessarily restrictive.

Foot note: I also posted above article on Newsphiles.org. The more people that know about this the better. Tell your friends, tell your local government officials what they obviously need to know more about..