This text was written by Erik van Mechelen, based mostly on the Octalysis framework designed by Yu-kai Chou
Human-focused Health
The primary takeaway from Yu-kai Chou’s Actionable Gamification: Past Factors, Badges, and Leaderboards is that design experiences, significantly these involving gamification, have to be designed for people. That’s why Yu-kai refers to them as human-focused.
Health must be human-focused too. It’s not solely about getting you exterior and transferring (like Pokemon Go), however about bettering well being and health and getting tangible outcomes over time. I might add, for the long run. It’s fairly straightforward to construct a product that works for 1 or 2 or 6 months, however there are valuable few that folks will use for past 6 months.
Listed here are the highest 10 health apps to look at (or use!) in 2017.
As at all times, I’ll consult with the 8 Core Drives of Octalysis. As a bonus, I’ll point out a number of Sport Methods alongside the way in which, too!
Edit: There are a LOT of health apps. Inform me which of them I missed within the feedback or on Octalysis Explorers on Fb!
10. Fitbit
I’ve written concerning the Fitbit earlier than, however it’s secure to say it stays a prevalent amongst common customers and athletes alike, from city commuters to runners and bikers.
Sport method: Fitbit does fairly nicely with Progress Bars (GT#4, CD2) for steps and Leaderboards (GT#2, CD2/5) in its social challenges.
What might make it higher: There isn’t a lot social creativity (for collaboration or competitors) within the app. I’d like to see MiniQuests in a social setting in-built, or possibly even Protector Quests (GT#36, CD4/8) combo’d with some form of streaking impact (like your streak is threatened until you do a random curiosity exercise problem!).
9. ShapeUp
Form Up for the XBox one makes use of movement sensor know-how and animated environments to raise competitors through challenges. In the event you watch the above video, you’ll get an thought of how spouses can use it to remain match of their house.
Sport method: Visible Storytelling (GT#77, CD1/2) offers motivational boosts in realtime.
What might make it higher: There may be little in the way in which of non-public physique administration and the Alfred Impact (GT#83, CD4). Right here’s a evaluate with an identical sentiment:
I used to be by no means requested to enter weight, peak, physique body, male/feminine, and so forth… I’ve performed different video games on my Wii which have finished this the place you may monitor tons of stuff just like the above in addition to meal data and such.
8. Skimble
Skimble offers you a digital private coach via a coach market. Your digital coach provides video programs so you may be taught and keep on monitor. Based mostly in your preferences, the coach provides further exercises as you progress.
For the accountability of a private coach at much less price, Skimble has develop into one of many main apps for Android in health.
Sport method: Accountability will get excessive marks. Successfully, that is Mentorship (GT#61, CD5).
What might make it higher: Whereas chat is good, a coach bodily with you’d give even greater mentorship and correction of kind and additional motivation. I might see Refreshing Content material (GT#73, CD7) being an issue until the coach actually is aware of what they’re doing and is aware of every trainee very well.
7. Strava
Strava is for runners and bikers for map-like monitoring.
One premium characteristic permits your trusted contacts to know the place you might be with a hyperlink to the map. This jogs my memory a bit of of tension-filled adventures within the new Zelda recreation, the place Hyperlink can truly die of hunger or drowning (within the new Nintendo Swap model).
My older brother goes on 4-hour bike-rides and 2-hour runs (or longer), and I do typically fear about whether or not he’ll get house secure, particularly when he’s pushing his physique so exhausting and has the added hazard of being on roads at the hours of darkness.
Sport method: With Premium, you get the license to go on “harmful” quests with the security beacon to family members. I’m truly unsure what to name this!
What might make it higher: Mint is de facto strong, however they might enhance their household plans for much more CD5.
6. RunKeeper
RunKeeper is fairly easy, however an efficient strategy to log runs in length, common tempo, and energy burned.
Sport method: The Schedule (GT#?, CD2) helps you to monitor your runs in opposition to your deliberate runs, identical to Seinfeld marking off his calendar.
What might make it higher: I’d like to see user-generated routes and trails and challenges (particularly since there are over 30 million individuals on the app!).
5. Rithmio Edge
Rithmio is a wearable stat tracker for weight lifters. In its simplicity of design, it truly does what it advertises fairly nicely. It just about does three issues:
- In-workout rep monitoring
- Publish-workout log
- Muscle tissues labored exercise monitoring
Sport method: I like the easy implementation of Progress Bars (GT#4, CD2). Nothing too fancy. The wearable provides a visible cue.
What might make it higher: For what it goals to do, I don’t see any apparent enhancements.
4. MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is a calorie counter and health tracker. I’ve heard that the macros and diet stats aren’t good (so verify a number of sources), however in any other case it does a terrific job of incorporating streaking and different progress ways. I like that diet is mixed with train.
Sport method: Measurement! By understanding precisely what you eat and when, customers profit over time via that information. Step-by-step overlays (GT#6, CD2/3) are efficient in Onboarding.
What might make it higher: Simply private desire, however I’d be a fan of including Misplaced Progress (GT#81, CD8) to discourage customers from consuming junk meals.
3. Fitocracy
Fitocracy is a health social community at its core that helps everybody get to the following stage of health. It does this via the mix of group, information, and gamification. – Richard Talens (Co-founder)
Nonetheless going robust after a number of years, Fitocracy has constructed fairly a human community of individuals and continues to put money into gamification to enhance the expertise.
Sport method: The health evaluation, diet, built-in exercises (Head Begin), and accountability via group use a wide range of methods and core drives.
What might make it higher: For $1 per day, you may rent an accountability coach. I believe they might enhance this pricing mannequin to maintain extra individuals hitting their health objectives for the long run.
2. Cycle Meter
Cycle Meter is a very easy cycle app.
Sport method: I just like the Historical past characteristic, displaying stats for particular person rides and evaluating in opposition to different rides. That is successfully Dynamic Suggestions (GT#12, CD3) as a result of desired actions give suggestions. You might argue this can be a crucial recreation method for any health app.
What might make it higher: Like many of those apps, I’d like to see extra methods taking part in to Core Drive 3: Empowerment of Creativity & Suggestions.
1. Pear Private Coach
^^^That’s a reasonably inspiring video.
Pear combines a heart-rate monitor with an earpiece to get digital trainers in your ear via synthetic intelligence.
Sport method: Mentorship (GT#61, CD5) is on the coronary heart of this app’s motivational contact.
What might make it higher: I believe I’ll have to strive it to search out out 🙂
Personalization and creativity/curiosity would be the successful formulation
In the case of long-term well being and health, I imagine some mixture of personalization (to your physique and your wants) with motivation via creativity (new routes and locations to go to) and curiosity (you by no means know what challenges you’ll face as we speak) will likely be a successful mixture for health apps. I hope to strive extra out quickly.
Reply under and inform me what I missed!
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