Here is recent article talking about a new DoCoMo service “mash up” that integrates an exercise application with mobile phones. The phone uses various sensors to track activity, heart rate, body fat, and a host of other data points in order to provide for fitness tracking and recommendations. The phone also provides inspirational advice depending on the data collected.
This is another interesting application that departs from traditional notions of service delivery over mobile devices. While in this case, the application may be developed by DoCoMo and Mitsubishi, the opportunities for open source developments are even more intriguing. If the platform were open, there would be developers around the world developing amazing new uses for such devices. As an example of what’s possible, check out the Carman application for the N800. The developers of this application took advantage of the standard data port on my late model cars to develop a really slick application that can report on many different sensors that already exist in these cars. While it is not health related, it isn’t too hard to make the leap to body diagnostics.
Imagine the applications that could be developed with both general fitness and medical uses if such a device were available. 1984 fears not withstanding, a usable device in this market space could be quite a breakthrough.
