Personal Informatics Post Three: Personal Media

The mission of Personal Media is to improve the health of customers by offering tools to continuously track, monitor, and analyze bodily functions through wearable devices. Currently they offer two such devices:

1. MWS: A weight management system that monitors calories burned, dietary intake, duration of physical activity and sleep

2. BMS: A body monitoring system that tracks energy expenditure, activity and sleep.

Naturally, just collecting such data isn't a 360 offering, so the monitoring devices are supplemented with a comprehensive data platform. Here's how their web site describes that:

Solution Platform
The SenseWear® platform is a marriage of three basic components – a wearable monitor, a personal feedback device and software. Working in concert, these three components deliver the data and insight that enables healthcare professionals to provide true behavior modification guidance and patient adherence.

SenseWear® Armband
The armband collects real-world metabolic data

SenseWear® Display
Shows up-to-the-minute patient feedback

SenseWear® Professional Software and SenseWear® Website
Allows for armband data uploads and (website only) manual input of nutrition intake and health indicators such as weight and blood pressure

Detailed Reports
Detailed reports are generated providing easy-to-read activity profiles and trends

Physician Insight
Physicians and patients can review the data and progress to gain insight into sleep, nutrition and activity patterns to evaluate adherence to doctor-prescribed behavior therapy programs

The target here can be consumers, but doctors and corporate wellness programs are also sales foci for the company.

I would imagine that the model here is direct payment -- that advertising is not part of their revenue program. But as a tool to offer more accurate and comprehensive assessment of patient health, lifestyle, and well being, this is clearly a serious component of the personal informatics landscape. shaving even a fraction off the costs of diabetes treatment would make this company very rich, indeed.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.