Written Kitten is a Seriously Cute Journalism Motivater
Shiori Mine — May 10, 2012 — Pop Culture
References: writtenkitten.net & fuelyourwriting
‘Written Kitten’ helps reduce paralyzing essay pains and writer’s block when struggling to get those last 200 words down. The creators Alex and Emily were inspired by Write or Die, which works similarly to keeping publishers focused. ‘Written Kitten’ takes on a more affirmative method of reward compared to its competitor’s consequential punishment tactics.
Based upon the theory of positive reinforcement, the seemingly simple site loads a fresh kitty for every X number of words composed. The feline snapshots are taken from popular tagged photos on image sharing network Flickr. Some of the kittens are too cute for words, while others just bring cramp-inducing laughter.
The site is astonishingly motivating when faced with the possibility of a delightful feline waiting around the corner. Ace assignments and papers by turning to Written Kitten rather than the hundreds of Internet cat videos circulating the web.
Based upon the theory of positive reinforcement, the seemingly simple site loads a fresh kitty for every X number of words composed. The feline snapshots are taken from popular tagged photos on image sharing network Flickr. Some of the kittens are too cute for words, while others just bring cramp-inducing laughter.
The site is astonishingly motivating when faced with the possibility of a delightful feline waiting around the corner. Ace assignments and papers by turning to Written Kitten rather than the hundreds of Internet cat videos circulating the web.
Trend Themes
1. Positive Reinforcement Writing Assistants - There is an opportunity to create positive reinforcement writing assistants, building on Written Kitten’s methodology.
2. Gamified Learning - Gamified learning could be an innovative way to incentivize students and professionals to write, as seen in Written Kitten's use of cute kitten photos as rewards.
3. Productivity Tools with Personalized Rewards - There is potential for productivity tools, such as time tracking or task management apps, to add personalized rewards like cute kitten photos to incentivize users and improve work output.
Industry Implications
1. Education - Written Kitten's concept could be applied to the education industry to incentivize students to write more frequently and deliver high quality papers.
2. Productivity Software - Productivity software companies could add personalized rewards such as unique and cute photos to assist users in improving productivity and assisting them overcome creative blocks.
3. Photography and Image Sharing Networks - Image sharing networks could look to gamify their services further by creating opportunities for users to compete for rewards based on unique clicks and views, building on the creativity seen in Written Kitten's use of cute kitten photos.
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