From cloud computing to mobile Internet, from user focus to culture and hedonism: the crucible of mobile health care and wellness applications

Abstract

With the rise of mobile Internet and cloud computing new ubiquitous medical services will emerge coinciding with changes in demographics and social structures. Mobile e-health and Wellness applications can help relieving the burden of accelerating health care costs due to aging societies. In order to leverage these new innovations a holistic approach must be considered. Facilitating user centered design, acceptance models for user diversity and cultural as well as hedonic aspects can lead to development of services that improve therapy compliance and can even change the youth’s lifestyle. An overview of such applications is presented and put into a cultural context.