Big Data is Accelerating Health Apps

Health applications are now taking advantage of big data. A lot of developers are also creating health care applications for mobile users. People are now aware that they have to get rid of their bad habits so that they can stay healthy. As such, they now monitor their daily activities through the various health applications so that they can enjoy a fuller and healthier life. By tracking daily routines, people become knowledgeable of the reason of their existence.

In 2011, some 10 million devices have been purchased by people in North America. In Rick Smolan’s book, The Human Face of Big Data, he reported that 27% of internet enthusiasts have started monitoring their health by seeking online information about health symptoms and indicators. In a Global Mobile Health Market Report, researchers are expecting that at least half a million individuals will have health applications in their smartphones within the next 5 years. Because of this, developers are now continuously introducing big data applications to monitor and track health related issues.

One of the primary reasons of the popularity of personal big data is that a person can now measure and quantify his routines in order to have a better mental and physical health condition. With these health applications, an individual can monitory, track, and visualize any progress one makes in order to make the necessary adjustments to live a better life. Thus, businesses taking advantage of these big data platforms are also on the upswing.

However, in a recent study by tech analyst organization Ovum, internet users are becoming concerned about privacy issues. In fact, there are some governments which are mulling regulation big data regulation. Even companies which collect online personal idea are preparing to seek a balance between their relationship with internet users and themselves by providing more control to these users. There are myriads of privacy tools which internet enthusiasts use in order to hide their data from big data collectors.

In an Ovum survey in 11 countries and 11,000 respondents, the organization found out that 68% of the respondents want to take advantage of the “do not track” feature of search engines it’s easily accessible. Only 14% of the respondents have faith that big data collectors are honest in using their personal data.

Mark Little, Ovum’s analyst, believes that a new business model is needed so that internet users have control over the personal information they can share with internet companies. A personal data vault can be created for each user which will contain accurate information which an individual is willing to share with others. Mark Little believes that the shift to the use of personal data vault will occur slowly. However, internet companies must be prepared for such changes as internet users will eventually push for better control with their personal information.