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Quantified Self

Quantified SelfQuantified Self

The The Quantified SelfQuantified Self is a movement to incorporate  is a movement to incorporate technology into data acquisition on aspects of a person's technology into data acquisition on aspects of a person's daily life in terms of inputs (e.g. food consumed, quality daily life in terms of inputs (e.g. food consumed, quality of surrounding air), states (e.g. mood, of surrounding air), states (e.g. mood, arousal, , blood oxygen levels), and performance (mental and ), and performance (mental and physical).  physical). 

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantified_SelfTaken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantified_Self

My Tracks App

My Tracks was debuted in 2009 and uses GPS and Barometer to track your location. I decided to track my location and My Tracks was debuted in 2009 and uses GPS and Barometer to track your location. I decided to track my location and whereabouts using the free of charge My Tracks Application. In accordance to Google Play, Where I downloaded the whereabouts using the free of charge My Tracks Application. In accordance to Google Play, Where I downloaded the application from, My Tracks application from, My Tracks

““records your path, speed, distance, and elevation while you walk, run, bike, or do anything else outdoors. While records your path, speed, distance, and elevation while you walk, run, bike, or do anything else outdoors. While recording, you can view your data live, annotate your path, and hear periodic voice announcements of your progressrecording, you can view your data live, annotate your path, and hear periodic voice announcements of your progress ””..

– –Taken from:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks&hl=enTaken from:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks&hl=en

The App initially intrigued me because I was interested to find out why the app was so popular and why exactly would the The App initially intrigued me because I was interested to find out why the app was so popular and why exactly would the general public want to download an application which basically acted as a tracking device, you would think in a general public want to download an application which basically acted as a tracking device, you would think in a society were human rights and freedom is essential, this app wouldn'tsociety were human rights and freedom is essential, this app wouldn't ’’t be seen as invasive.t be seen as invasive.

Furthermore this alone was one of the main reasons as to why I choose to embark and critically examine further this Furthermore this alone was one of the main reasons as to why I choose to embark and critically examine further this application.application.

MoodoMeterThe app MoodoMeter was by first developed in May 2011 and since has been updated numerous times. The The app MoodoMeter was by first developed in May 2011 and since has been updated numerous times. The

app is used for the user to log their mood based on 6 smiley photo and the influence, its also logs the time app is used for the user to log their mood based on 6 smiley photo and the influence, its also logs the time and date. The App can also use GPS to track where you last updated your mood on the appand date. The App can also use GPS to track where you last updated your mood on the app

““Moodometer is a discrete, portable and easy to use interactive mood diary which helps you monitor, Moodometer is a discrete, portable and easy to use interactive mood diary which helps you monitor, understand and receive top tips on your emotional wellbeing, whenever or wherever you are.understand and receive top tips on your emotional wellbeing, whenever or wherever you are. ””

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/moodometer/id404137652?mt=8https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/moodometer/id404137652?mt=8

I chose this app, because monitoring my mood progression interested me, also with the app being free and I chose this app, because monitoring my mood progression interested me, also with the app being free and sponsored by the NHS, I thought it would have a more accurate analysis of my moodsponsored by the NHS, I thought it would have a more accurate analysis of my mood

The Positives: My TrackAlthough I mostly spent a duration of my time highlighting and examining Although I mostly spent a duration of my time highlighting and examining

the negative and questionable reason implications behind the app there the negative and questionable reason implications behind the app there are too some positive points that can be highlighted:are too some positive points that can be highlighted:

Firstly the app acts as a good way to record your fitness levels, by Firstly the app acts as a good way to record your fitness levels, by monitoring your walking and running distance (Specifically useful for monitoring your walking and running distance (Specifically useful for those who are training)those who are training)

Tracking devices have always found a way to be proved helpful in some Tracking devices have always found a way to be proved helpful in some scenarios especially when referring to runaway children or criminals.scenarios especially when referring to runaway children or criminals.

The app has been overall very popular with the public, as shown belowThe app has been overall very popular with the public, as shown below

The Positives : MoodometerThe Main Positives about the use of the app are The Main Positives about the use of the app are

Rate your mood Rate your mood 

Track your mood using a 90 day mood graphTrack your mood using a 90 day mood graph

Record comments in a confidential mood diaryRecord comments in a confidential mood diary

Monitor what influences your mood to understand yourself better *NEWMonitor what influences your mood to understand yourself better *NEW

Receive tips to help you improve and maintain your moodReceive tips to help you improve and maintain your mood

Access help when you need it mostAccess help when you need it most

View the mood for your area and see how others around you are feelingView the mood for your area and see how others around you are feeling

I did initially have my doubts about downloading this application, as the idea of my every movement I did initially have my doubts about downloading this application, as the idea of my every movement being tracked for my use alone, seemed slightly peculiar.being tracked for my use alone, seemed slightly peculiar.

As I had previously done some research I was even more shocked to find out that many of the As I had previously done some research I was even more shocked to find out that many of the general public seemed to like the app so much that it wanted its tracking precision to be more general public seemed to like the app so much that it wanted its tracking precision to be more accurate, Almost giving off the idea that as humans we like to be tracked as long as we view it as accurate, Almost giving off the idea that as humans we like to be tracked as long as we view it as being beneficial to us.being beneficial to us.

Taken from :Google Play reviews page

I based my decision on choosing this app according I based my decision on choosing this app according to the reviews on the App store. to the reviews on the App store.

Green smiley face      Green smiley face      

by Mr93Great app, simple, quick and effectiveby Mr93Great app, simple, quick and effective

I like it!      I like it!      

by Ihatemondays_1996Think update is good, it feels more personal & the tips have been updated too @G @Aquablue if you by Ihatemondays_1996Think update is good, it feels more personal & the tips have been updated too @G @Aquablue if you rotate your phone you will see your mood charts and history they are a bit hidden but they are there!rotate your phone you will see your mood charts and history they are a bit hidden but they are there!

Based on the star reviews most people gave the app 1 star out of 5 however most of the Based on the star reviews most people gave the app 1 star out of 5 however most of the written reviews gave the app a positive deliberation, giving the app and average of 3 and a half written reviews gave the app a positive deliberation, giving the app and average of 3 and a half out of 5 stars. However using the application myself I soon realised that I myself benefited from out of 5 stars. However using the application myself I soon realised that I myself benefited from it, unlike the persons that gave the application a 1 star review.it, unlike the persons that gave the application a 1 star review.

The Negatives: My TrackThe tracking of humans contributes to a certain extent to the phenomena that has been The tracking of humans contributes to a certain extent to the phenomena that has been

surrounding society about self-surveillance, more specifically the idea of the surrounding society about self-surveillance, more specifically the idea of the Panopticon, coined by Jeremy Bentham Which can apply to the cunning tactical way in Panopticon, coined by Jeremy Bentham Which can apply to the cunning tactical way in which these tracking apps are able to watch our every move.which these tracking apps are able to watch our every move.

““Based on ones intentions for a panoptic plan of people management, as it is based on Based on ones intentions for a panoptic plan of people management, as it is based on ones ability to see without being seenones ability to see without being seen””.(Deuze,2012,109).(Deuze,2012,109)

- Where is this information going?- Where is this information going?

It seems very unlikely that after we use this information it gets wiped out completely, It seems very unlikely that after we use this information it gets wiped out completely, so the question stands what exactly is being done with the data that the app collects.so the question stands what exactly is being done with the data that the app collects.

The Negatives: MoodometerBased on some the bad reviews, I was apprehensive about downloading the Based on some the bad reviews, I was apprehensive about downloading the application.application.

I did not like the surveillance aspect of the task of having to record my every I did not like the surveillance aspect of the task of having to record my every moodmood

Big DataBig Data

The Mood-O-Meter collects information with us knowing The Mood-O-Meter collects information with us knowing obviously, but what we are not fully aware of is were the obviously, but what we are not fully aware of is were the information is being stored and who has access to it.information is being stored and who has access to it.

Free Labour

As As Tiziana TerranovaTiziana Terranova implied through her theory of implied through her theory of ““Free LabourFree Labour”” We came up to the conclusion that We came up to the conclusion that these apps contribute to this idea of free labour, as these apps contribute to this idea of free labour, as they provide society with information about us, which they provide society with information about us, which could potentially be used to benefit capitalism.could potentially be used to benefit capitalism.

Conclusion

Overall these apps contributed to the idea of the Overall these apps contributed to the idea of the quantified self, and also were insightful in showing us quantified self, and also were insightful in showing us the ways in which these downloadable apps can be the ways in which these downloadable apps can be used to not only track our feelings/movement etc but used to not only track our feelings/movement etc but to benefit society in various ways.to benefit society in various ways.