Mobile phones, particularly smartphones and other mobile computing devices, are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, which enhances the potential to assess and improve health.
It offers opportunities to address one of the most pressing global challenges: making healthcare more accessible, faster, better and cheaper. mHealth is not a separate industry, but rather it’s the future of a healthcare industry that’s evolving to care for patients differently, putting them first to deliver services better, faster and less expensively. mHealth offers personal toolkits for predictive, participatory and preventative care.
Several large technology companies including Apple, Google, and Samsung are entering the expanding market of population health with the introduction of wearable devices. This technology, worn in clothing or accessories, is part of a larger movement often referred to as the “quantified self.” The notion is that by recording and reporting information about behaviors such as physical activity or sleep patterns, these devices can educate and motivate individuals toward better habits and better health. The gap between recording information and changing behavior is substantial, however, and while these devices are increasing in popularity, little evidence suggests that they are bridging that gap.
True device adoption will come when developers offer affordable solutions that provide greater value. Companies need to rally consumer interest in wearables by educating them on the unique experiences and benefits of these and other wearables.
From smartwatches to mobile heart monitors, wearable technology is changing our world. The team at Pocket App has been involved in mobile health solutions for over 10 years, launching the UK’s first mobile health product – Pocket Doctor – in 2001. The rise in wearables will give great potentials to develop innovative apps in the various wearable devices.
