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How integrated data can make me into a Super-Dad

There is a massive amount of data on each and every one of us scattered in cyberspace. Integrating this data in a meaningful way could result in a better and healthier YOU.
I’m a dad. I love to play with my son. There’s just no substitute for it: the little eyes filled with the wonder of the world, fart sounds being a source of immeasurable joy. Sometimes, though, after a long day at work, I just don’t have the energy or focus to play with the little rascal. It pains me to see the disappointment in the little guy’s eyes when he realizes I won’t crawl under the kitchen table with him.

Wait, why do I get tired after work? I don’t get tired after eight hours on a day off, even if I’m out and about all day. So it must have something to do with the activities – or the lack thereof – during the workday. Caffeine, food, stress – all of these things matter.

There are so many kinds of activity trackers and other gizmos that it’s hard to keep up, but they all basically measure movement and translate that data into a presentable form. It’s quite nice to know how many steps you’ve taken during the day and how many calories you’ve burned, but the information doesn’t really help me figure out what it is that makes me tired.

Now, if the data could be combined with other kinds of data, such as location, grocery shopping, calendar, heart rate and medical data – that could give me some very interesting answers. Imagine an application, which could tell you that you should skip coffee in meetings, because you gulp down that sweet nectar of life too often for your own good. Too much caffeine in your system can make you feel drowsy.

The application could suggest this since it knows you always drink coffee at meetings, based on your heart rate and calendar data. The possibilities don’t end there. Based on your history, news, heart rate and inactivity, the application could deduce that you’re about to get sick, and offer to book an appointment at a doctor nearby. It could even file your medical history and insurance details and send them to the doctor in advance. But I’m getting way ahead of myself now.

The main point here is that there are tons of useful data on us that could be used to enhance our daily lives and our health. If integrated in a suitable way, these little crumbs of information on our daily habits could help us stay more healthy, more active and possibly prevent lifestyle diseases. On a larger scale, this could lead to significant savings in the health care industry, massive profits in the wellbeing and fitness industries, and on a personal level for me: more irreplaceable, active and special moments with my son.

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This post was originally published in the University of Oulu website: The blog post

Writer:
Tero Huhtala
Oulu Business School
About the dad in question:
I’m a PHD student at the University of Oulu, trying desperately to understand the transformation of industries in the emerging ecosystem of personal data, and hoping to make my own contribution to Lady Science.
 
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