You're sitting in the pub beer garden having a few drinks with friends, aching for a cigarette. But you're supposed to have quit. What do you do?

If Australian researchers have their way, a support group of friends and counsellors will automatically text you to say "No, don't do it".

It's an example of 'persuasive technology', using technology to influence human behaviour.

The National Health and Medical Research Council-funded project looks to improve the online counselling service, Quit Coach.

Benda, who outlined the new system at a recent Human Communication Science Network workshop, says studies of Quit Coach found users were not returning to the site.

Benda says the new system is unique because it combines web-based counselling with a social network and mobile technologies such as SMS and MSN.

"You might get into a crisis situation where you could broadcast a message using SMS to your [online] Quit Coach, which your whole support group will see," he says.