Friday, December 6, 2013

Can iBeacons improve health behaviors and attitudes?


Apple recently announced iBeacons as a way to communicate with iOS devices in a predefined area using Bluetooth and they are showing the capabilities in their Apple Stores. Not to be confused with SMS, NFC, WiFi, and GPS marketing tools, groups like Macy's and MLB are testing its use right now.

Exergaming Points 2 Ponder (ExP2P)

  • The more reliable methods of changing behaviors and attitudes using multimedia has been through text-based messaging (with email coming in second). The question is can people establish their own iBeacons in their own work and home environments to prompt health promoting changes?
  • Adding in the function of determining sedentary time would be really helpful as well similar to the Gruve product with light indicating sedentary time and last time being physically active.
  •  It would be also great if the app that linked to the iBeacons would be able to promote available activities, exercises, healthy food choices nearby, and even relaxation, breathing, or posture improving stretches.

[Via GigaOm, Gruve,  iPhoneHacks & Forbes]
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