Why big data can be helpful to health and why I’m wearing an activity monitor for seven days
We live in the era of big data when it is easy and cheap to record, store and analyse vast quantities of data. This has huge implications for individuals, corporations and governments because we can learn so much from such data that can help individuals to live more healthily or companies to sell us more or governments to improve services. There are, of course, risks to privacy and liberty and we need to protect against these risks.
I am very interested in how big data can improve health outcomes which is which I was pleased to contribute to a huge health monitoring exercise here in Britain called UK Biobank. Four years ago, I blogged about the battery of tests I underwent here.
Today, I started to participate in a further Biobamk trial which involves me wearing an activity monitor on my wrist continuously for seven days. The monitor records information about the duration, frequency and intensity of all kinds of activity by measuring speed of movement in three directions (up/down, forwards/backwards. and left/right). The data gathered from me and thousands of other participants will help to show the links between activity and health.
My companion for the next seven days and nights