Health-hackers: The people building apps to manage their illness. What app would you like?

[AussieNeil]

There's a growing range of health tracking mobile apps along with dedicated monitoring technical aids like smartwatches and of course the fitbit. This New Scientist article (free registration) looks at how some people with chronic health conditions are extending the capabilities of these aids so that they can get better at taking care of themselves by finding ways to monitor and mitigate the quirks of long-term medical conditions:

newscientist.com/article/mg...

For those not into the above, the article continues: "Others are searching for ways to streamline tracking for people who are less familiar with technology. Katie McCurdy, a user experience designer in Vermont, started out with simple tools like a hand-sketched timeline and a colour-coded spreadsheet to represent the ups and downs of her myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune disease. She says this has helped her pinpoint factors, such as antibiotics and certain foods, that aggravate her symptoms."

The final 'Open my heart' piece illustrates well how access restrictions to the data captured by medical implants can frustrate those reliant on these devices for their health.

What do you wish was available to help you live better with CLL?

Neil

Photo: Galah caught mid feather fluff