Future Now
The IFTF Blog
On-the-Go Health for Kids?
We explored Mobile Health technology at our Spring Conference (see our forecast and related scenarios under publications)--and we will continue to do so in the coming months.
Mobile technology is more than just a communications channel. It can be used as a tool for self-knowledge, for remote monitoring of medical conditions, and as an interface to access health information.
A recent post on Tech 'n' Health noted that the new version of Sony's popular PlayStationPortable (PSP) will include WiFi software capable of messaging, voice, and video calls. The blogger expressed enthusiasm for the idea of using this technology to reach kids who have health issues. She encourages the development of secure health networks for kids, and closes with, "It's an exciting market with loads of potential."
She may be on to something. Mobile technology is already a ubiquitous part of kids' lives--e-mail is a dinosaur compared to the world of IM. And social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook wouldn't exist if not for their young users. So why wouldn't kids dealing health challenges--especially the growing number of those with chronic conditions like diabetes--turn to mobile products for anytime, anyplace support and information?