Trackers: How Technology is Helping Us Monitor and Improve Our Health

by Richard MacManus

Self-tracking is the practice of measuring and monitoring your health, activities or diet through technologies such as smartphone apps, wearables and personal genomics, empowering you to take control of your day to day health. Richard MacManus explains the benefits and risks of self-tracking and looks at:

- What exactly is being tracked
- The tools and techniques being used
- The best practices of early adopters
- How self-tracking is revolutionizing the health and wellness industries
- How the medical establishment is adapting to these new trends

'… a must-read industry primer and a personal treasure trove for anyone striving to live a healthier life in the age of information.’ - Dr Indu Subaiya, Co-chairman & CEO, Health 2.0

'…This book will be a wake-up call to health services and health researchers about the rapidly approaching importance of patient reported data and the opportunities for collaborating with the medical establishment.' - Dr. Robyn Whittaker, Public health physician & health researcher, Waitemata District Health Board & University of Auckland, NZ

'Richard MacManus has penned a must-read book both for anyone looking to get or stay healthy and the millions of care givers working to help them on that journey . . . Trackers is that rare treat of a technology book that manages to stay current despite a fast moving news cycle, and succeeds at offering its lucky readers a peek at what’s next.' - Brian Dolan, Editor & co-founder, MobiHealthNews

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Science

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2014

About the author

Tech journalist at The New Stack and internet historian at cybercultural.com. 🥝 living in 🇬🇧

Reviews

[Pete Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. It is not a complete book of Activity Trackers (which is a good thing, as that would make it immediately out of date).

But the author has had some great access to thought leaders (and want-to-be thought leaders) in this space, and puts it in the context of their company history. Along with an approach that covers a diverse range of topics (from activity to the the personal microbiome), along with coverage of various communication and motivational challenges.

Like many such good books, it does leave as many questions as answers. But it did bring many of the key players into a broader picture that should appeal to anyone interested in tracking or wellness.


Recommended - if you are interested in the Quantified Self or wellness

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was inspired by the author's diagnosis as a diabetic. Certainly it was great to read a New Zealander's rendering of the digital tracking culture. But - like many of these early fitness books - MacManus is not quite sure if this is a 'how to' guide, a product review or a cultural analysis. Unlike the other books in this field, there is attention to neuroscience and 'brain training' and an assessment of an individual's genetic code.

It is a solid book, but it needed a stronger argument and point. MacManus is an effective writer and it is a straight-forward book to read.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy book to read, the take home message is that motivated individuals can improve their health with tracking devices. There's a shift in health care to take responsibility for your own health and share your health tracking statistics with your healthcare provider. The real challenge is how to bring preventive health tracking to unmotivated populations. Thought provoking and kept my interest throughout.

[Lighthouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! I used a few apps on my iPhone to get fit and healthy before my wedding but had never really thought further about my use of technology and how it was being, and could be, used for health. Reading this made me excited about what the future holds for health technology.