Why we should stress about stress scores: issues and directions for wearable stress-tracking technology

Stress-tracking technology is becoming widely available and accessible, offering non-invasive ways to monitor and regulate stress. Yet, current stress-tracking technology presents stress scores that lack transparency, informativeness, and nuance. This provocation paper discusses five key issues that the current stress-tracking technology should overcome, involving conceptualization, measurements, transparency, interpretation, and responsibility. Next, we provide three directions to overcome these issues and inform better stress-tracking practices and future research. Future stress technology should improve stress response measurements, use better terminology and data visualizations, and increase user involvement and transparency. We conclude that there is a pressing need for designers and researchers to take greater responsibility in creating stress-tracking technologies that are useful, fair and just, and centered around individuals’ needs.