There are tens of thousands of applications for mobile devices. Most of them are admittedly worthless. There is one idea out there that sounds like it would not only be a hit, but would benefit a lot of people. It is an app that would combine the technology that most of us already use and encourage us to live healthier lives. It sounds great.
The idea comes from a challenge that the current U.S Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, made to mobile companies and health application developers. The challenge was given at the mSummit on December 6th, and was designed to encourage those “who may not be tech savvy and who wouldn’t ordinarily want to get involved to become healthy and fit, and to make it easy and fun.”
The main focus will be toward people who are in harder to reach areas, and people who are not getting the healthcare they need.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is involved with the challenge which will have three categories: physical activity, healthy eating and integrative health, and will include health for the mind and spirit and proper sleep and reduced stress.
The competition will run until December 30th, with the winner being announced late January 2012. All app developers are encouraged to enter. Benjamin said, “We want to start using this as soon as we can.”
In a world where there is much overkill and many mobile apps are useless, it’s nice to see an idea that can really, really not only help with information and direction, but can educate as well. There is really nothing more important than our health.