Are you a tech nerd or totally oblivious to it all? Are you interested in having the latest phone model? Do you swoon at the thought of buying more wearable tech such as an Apple watch, fitbit et al? Do you use nutrition and activity tracking apps to keep an eye on your health, fitness and nutrition? Why am I asking? (Just nosey if I'm honest!) No, I've been reading articles how all of the above tech is coming together and is set to become HUGE over the next decade. Read on and see if you think this is a good thing (the benefits are clear to see) or ominous as more massive multinational companies get hold of more of our data and lives.
It's a revolution that is happening now in the States and Australia. Large companies have been giving their employees, as part of their wellness programmes "wearables" to a huge positive response with more set to follow suit. Unlike us, these countries do not have an NHS so the population, if they can afford it, have to purchase private medical insurance to pay for any treatment. So what is happening now, these insurers are asking their policy holders to link their devices with them in return for cash incentives, discounts on premiums etc so long as they can access the data relating to health from the device. (This where I start thinking Orwell's 1984) Policy holders are then set health goals and if they meet them, then they receive the rewards.
Although not quite in its infancy, Insurers are starting to engage with their customers more through their devices, offering daily tips, sending them messages that they've been sedentary for too long, offering real time health advice, creating individualised health & fitness plans doing away with the 1 size fits all plans of the past.
Some Insurers are also looking at partnering with top Fitness Club brands to get members to wear wearables and offer incentives.
So what do you think, good idea? I can see the pros, and how something like the NHS could use this to tackle increasing levels of obesity but is it a step too far? Giving more of our personal information away? Will people, who are more sedentary due to some long term medical condition, be discriminated against and face higher premiums? It'll be interesting if or when this type of thing arrives here and how it will pan out. Thoughts?
Until next week, stay safe
MB
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