Citizen Engagement in the mHealth Ecosystem Using Mobiles and Wearable Devices

Abstract

We live in a world where the mobile phones number is about to reach andovercome the global population. This does not mean that everyone willhave one or even cell service will exist everywhere, but signifies therapid expansion of the mobile sector. Mobile devices offer tremendousopportunities for the healthcare by the fact that unlike other forms ofcommunication, such as the internet, they are personal, their price iscontinuously reduced while their functionalities increase. Latest trendin the mobile device market are the wearable devices that extend thecapabilities of the smartphones or the tablets and are even morepersonal. Wearable devices are equipped with various sensors that can beused to monitor health conditions and generate smart alerts foremergency situations. In this paper an analysis of the capabilities thesmart devices offer for different citizen groups (healthy and unhealthy)is performed and actions for the promotion of the citizen engagement inthe self-monitoring of their health, along with the benefits from theadoption of mHealth solutions is examined.