Making Sense of Mobile and Web Based Wellness Information Technology: A Cross Generational Study

Information and
communication technologies (ICTs) that can harness the knowledge and support of
other people and allow individuals to manage and understand their health and
wellness can empower individuals to actively manage their health, change their
behaviors, and learn more about health conditions [1,2]. Examples include general social networking platforms such as
Facebook [3], online patient communities [4], smartphones [5] and exercise oriented
video games [6]. These applications
generate data about and for the individual, data that can influence their
health-related decision-making and technology adoption. Individuals'
preferences about using such applications, useful features, and related factors
will be predicated upon their previous experiences with ICTs, similar systems
and other contextualizing concerns, including what others think about them. The
popularity and potential of user-targeted health applications for personal
empowerment argues for research that can provide us with a deeper understanding
of how people perceive such technologies and their interests and concerns about
sharing health-related information.