Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking data
Objective Self-tracking technologies have created high hopes, even hype, for aiding people to govern their own health risks and promote optimal wellness. High expectations do not, however, necessarily materialize due to connective gaps between personal experiences and self-tracking data. This study...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2018-05-01
|
| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207618779714 |
| _version_ | 1819315641425854464 |
|---|---|
| author | Sari Yli-Kauhaluoma Mika Pantzar |
| author_facet | Sari Yli-Kauhaluoma Mika Pantzar |
| author_sort | Sari Yli-Kauhaluoma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Self-tracking technologies have created high hopes, even hype, for aiding people to govern their own health risks and promote optimal wellness. High expectations do not, however, necessarily materialize due to connective gaps between personal experiences and self-tracking data. This study examines situations when self-trackers face difficulties in engaging with, and reflecting on, their data with the aim of identifying the specificities and consequences of such connective gaps in self-tracking contexts. Methods The study is based on empirical analyses of interviews of inexperienced, experienced and extreme self-trackers (in total 27), who participated in a pilot study aiming at promoting health and wellness. Results The study shows that people using self-tracking devices actively search for constant connectivity to their everyday experiences and particularly health and wellness through personal data but often become disappointed. The results suggest that in connective gaps the personal data remains invisible or inaccurate, generating feelings of confusion and doubt in the users of the self-tracking devices. These are alarming symptoms that may lead to indifference when disconnectivity becomes solidified and data ends up becoming dead, providing nothing useful for the users of self-tracking technologies. Conclusions High expectations which are put on wearables to advance health and wellness may remain unmaterialised due to connective gaps. This is problematic if individuals are increasingly expected to be active in personal data collection and interpretation regarding their own health and wellness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T10:03:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1edf24125ca944debed6cd9a0058a255 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T10:03:20Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1edf24125ca944debed6cd9a0058a2552022-12-21T17:00:56ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762018-05-01410.1177/2055207618779714Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking dataSari Yli-KauhaluomaMika PantzarObjective Self-tracking technologies have created high hopes, even hype, for aiding people to govern their own health risks and promote optimal wellness. High expectations do not, however, necessarily materialize due to connective gaps between personal experiences and self-tracking data. This study examines situations when self-trackers face difficulties in engaging with, and reflecting on, their data with the aim of identifying the specificities and consequences of such connective gaps in self-tracking contexts. Methods The study is based on empirical analyses of interviews of inexperienced, experienced and extreme self-trackers (in total 27), who participated in a pilot study aiming at promoting health and wellness. Results The study shows that people using self-tracking devices actively search for constant connectivity to their everyday experiences and particularly health and wellness through personal data but often become disappointed. The results suggest that in connective gaps the personal data remains invisible or inaccurate, generating feelings of confusion and doubt in the users of the self-tracking devices. These are alarming symptoms that may lead to indifference when disconnectivity becomes solidified and data ends up becoming dead, providing nothing useful for the users of self-tracking technologies. Conclusions High expectations which are put on wearables to advance health and wellness may remain unmaterialised due to connective gaps. This is problematic if individuals are increasingly expected to be active in personal data collection and interpretation regarding their own health and wellness.https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207618779714 |
| spellingShingle | Sari Yli-Kauhaluoma Mika Pantzar Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking data Digital Health |
| title | Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking data |
| title_full | Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking data |
| title_fullStr | Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking data |
| title_short | Seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences: Specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self-tracking data |
| title_sort | seeking connectivity to everyday health and wellness experiences specificities and consequences of connective gaps in self tracking data |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207618779714 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sariylikauhaluoma seekingconnectivitytoeverydayhealthandwellnessexperiencesspecificitiesandconsequencesofconnectivegapsinselftrackingdata AT mikapantzar seekingconnectivitytoeverydayhealthandwellnessexperiencesspecificitiesandconsequencesofconnectivegapsinselftrackingdata |