Behavior change is non-linear (and tough)

For anyone who has started an exercise routine or diet, you know that changing some existing behavior is tough. Avoid the cookies and eat the apple instead. Take the stairs, not the elevator. And when you lose your resolve, you feel bad.

According to the World Health Organization, about half of the deaths in 2012 occurred because of non-communicable disease and could have been prevented by building better habits. So how do governments and healthcare providers create programs for patients to help reduce that number? frog design took on the task with research to determine how best to craft an effective program.

There are a couple of finding but the big takeaways include building empathetic conversations between HCPs and patients. Similarly, keeping the patient at the heart of their own story with tools like The Cardiovascular Risk Toolkit involves all participants in an effective shared plan. 

UI does RX for depression

Crowdsourcing depression seems like an interesting idea but a new app called Koko takes it to another level. Allowing a closed community to weigh in on personal issues to reframe a problem is a great idea to help depressed people feel less alone.

The bigger challenge was whittling down the on boarding tutorial to a couple of frames. Here's where graphic, simple UI steps in. By leveraging Rorschach blots to convey the idea that reframing is key to perspective, the app allows people to use community to work through problems and show  how individuals can see a problem in many different ways.

Apps do make life easier. This time on a deeper level.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3054697/how-a-ui-can-help-treat-anxiety-and-depression

Logo-less branding

Yes, we all know Hillary. And her new logo is, quite frankly, pretty bad. 

Moving Brands took a stab at an alternative which I think is pretty good. SInce we all know Hillary (no last name necessary) we probably don't need a logo to give her campaign a distinctive POV.
The design system is flexible and gives her the opportunity to frame her narrative through the lens of her prospective constituents.

A nice change from the red, white and blue swooshes that seem to dominate most political branding. http://www.fastcodesign.com/3045490/how-to-build-a-brand-in-5-days

Kurt Vonnegut's rejected thesis

Apparently, Kurt Vonnegut was an anthropology major at the University of Chicago and wrote his master's thesis on the arcs of stories. According to him, well-known story lines have beautiful bell curves that form a couple of templates that are used in numerous works of fiction, from fairy tales to Shakespeare.  His thesis was rejected. Now we know why they claim that "fun goes to die" at the University of Chicago.

Intel partnering with Michael J. Fox Foundation to bring big data to Parkinsons research

Former Intel CEO Andrew Grove, who was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2006, helped Intel partner with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help develop a wearable device to measure symptoms to help track the disease. A FitBand like device can record internal changes and help Parkinsons sufferers understand their symptoms and help researchers gain insight into the disease.

One patient-centered communication system for many different audiences.

Artefact used real-life experiences by patients and doctors to design a seamless interface that allows all constituencies to view all patient records and vitals in one place on their iPad. Most importantly, the use of color, graphics, imagery and story-telling allows each patient's story come to life.

Fuel bands are just the beginning →

Fuel bands are just the beginning for technology and healthcare monitoring. Companies like  MC10, will release their first commercial product with Reebok later this year. Called the CheckLight, it fits into a soft skullcap to measure impacts during sports (as an early warning sign of concussions.) http://www.fastcodesign.com/1672217/stamp-on-circuits-could-put-your-phone-on-your-finger

While we have been so focused on the negative aspects of tech monitoring, examples like this allow us to be one step ahead of a catastrophic event.