DAVID HEATH
CEO, Cutitronics Limited, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Abstract

The medical health industry is an excellent example of where devices and digital technologies have been adopted to work alongside drug formulation to support optimal patient outcomes. 

Everyday examples of this include drug-eluting stents for management of cardiovascular disease and device technology to support patients in managing diabetes.  

This approach unburdens the patient, addressing behavioural factors such as poor compliance and automatically adapting to the real-time needs of the patient. This provides an excellent, and transferable, example of device and digital combos working in conjunction with formulations to support optimised outcomes for the user.

Here, we map this approach to similar challenges in the beauty industry, supporting consumers to achieve product results that have been confirmed through clinical trials.

THE INTERSECTION OF DATA AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT

The term ‘Quantified Self’ (QS) essentially relates to ‘self-knowledge through self-tracking’, i.e. the act of measuring and interpreting personal data to improve your quality of life in some way.

In this definition of QS, there is both the collection of personal data to inform, but importantly there is also action on that data leading to improved progress towards a goal. 

While the desire to self-improve is hardly a new phenomenon, the introduction of powerful, mobile, digital devices into the equation has fuelled an explosion in the popularity of QS products in the fitness and wellness industries, with ‘Fitbit’ style activity trackers being one obvious example.

Recent statistics published by Businesswire.com found that:

• 31% of US consumers use a QS device;
• Growth of the QS market is predicted to exceed 40% per annum for the next 5 years;
• 90% of health and fitness QS users say using the tools has impacted their lifestyle and behaviour.

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