An incentive scheme for TB patients, which rewards people for taking their medicine, has been developed by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Tuberculosis kills millions of people every year despite the fact that effective treatment exists, and the scheme was borne out of the challenge simply to get patients to take their medicine.
Called X Out TB, the scheme makes use of an indicator stick that can test for the presence of TB medicine in urine. If it tests positive, it reveals a code that the user can redeem for free mobile phone credit. Field tests have been carried out in Nicaragua, Pakistan and Indonesia.
X Out TB could be a breakthrough in monitoring patients in developing countries, who may not have easy access to medical centres. Importantly, the plan is a clear-cut incentive-based scheme that harnesses the power of popular technology – the mobile phone. With such simple encouragement, X Out TB puts forth a strong attempt to make sure sufferers take care into their own hands.
Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts
Friday
First interactive TV show for mobile phones
TV has just got more interactive with the launch of a new drama called Thmbnls created exclusively for mobile phones.
The shows, which will be broadcast on mobile networks, will allow viewers to use text messaging to send in their opinions and ultimately shape the course of the plot throughout the series, meaning viewers can personally interact with the characters and the issues they’re facing in a way that’s not been achieved before.
In our highly connected world, with an always-on work ethic, the New Millennial generation is starting to see these tools as providing a resource for their everyday entertainment.
The shows, which will be broadcast on mobile networks, will allow viewers to use text messaging to send in their opinions and ultimately shape the course of the plot throughout the series, meaning viewers can personally interact with the characters and the issues they’re facing in a way that’s not been achieved before.
In our highly connected world, with an always-on work ethic, the New Millennial generation is starting to see these tools as providing a resource for their everyday entertainment.
Monday
Flickr revamps mobile site with video function
Photo sharing site Flickr has finally revamped its mobile site to allow visitors to play videos via their phones.
The new functionality, based on the Yahoo Video platform, is initially only available to consumers accessing the site via an iPhone and iPod Touch, with wider handset roll-out planned in the near future.
Other updates to the site include the ability to add contacts, favourite images, and change privacy and permission settings.
This new Flickr mobile experience reflects the possibilities that today's advanced and rich mobile web has to offer.
Rival video sharing site YouTube launched on mobile in June 2007.
The new functionality, based on the Yahoo Video platform, is initially only available to consumers accessing the site via an iPhone and iPod Touch, with wider handset roll-out planned in the near future.
Other updates to the site include the ability to add contacts, favourite images, and change privacy and permission settings.
This new Flickr mobile experience reflects the possibilities that today's advanced and rich mobile web has to offer.
Rival video sharing site YouTube launched on mobile in June 2007.
Tuesday
Top brand websites still inaccessible on mobile
According to a new report by Bango, ten of the twenty most visited websites still fail to work properly on leading mobile handsets.
Between three and five per cent of traffic to websites comes from mobile users, yet websites are not adapting fast enough to match mobile browsing trends, and are failing to present mobile-friendly versions of their sites.
Consumers who access sites from mobile phones often have a bad user experience which can potentially damage the reputation of the brand. Brands should now be asking which handsets, countries and languages matter most to their business, and developing a mobile strategy to match this.
The report, which analysed websites on a number of criteria, found that sites which translate well to mobile include eBay, YouTube, Yahoo!, Google, Amazon and Facebook.
Between three and five per cent of traffic to websites comes from mobile users, yet websites are not adapting fast enough to match mobile browsing trends, and are failing to present mobile-friendly versions of their sites.
Consumers who access sites from mobile phones often have a bad user experience which can potentially damage the reputation of the brand. Brands should now be asking which handsets, countries and languages matter most to their business, and developing a mobile strategy to match this.
The report, which analysed websites on a number of criteria, found that sites which translate well to mobile include eBay, YouTube, Yahoo!, Google, Amazon and Facebook.
Thursday
A placid revolution
In his book ‘Here Comes Everybody’ Clay Shirky recognised that revolutions don't happen when technology is introduced, but when it becomes ubiquitous.
Mobile has indeed achieved total saturation, but the use of content and services haven't followed suit, and has meant we are yet to see the fabled 'year of mobile advertising' revolution.
But with O2's prediction that mobile marketing spend is to grow 150% over the next five years it seems entirely feasible that it could happen so long as the channel helps itself to grow.
The opportunity lies in generating new spend from the thousands of clients yet to experiment with mobile, and although mobile is still ranked alongside social networking as a nice-to-have, rather than an essential, it will never be relevant for all.
But clever spend, in the right channels, will allows brands to punch above their weight, and potentially deliver an effective alternative.
So, in order to take full advantage, mobile must ensure it overcomes the ongoing hurdles of education, fragmentation and usability. If it fails, then the platform will never become ubiquitous, and any potential revolutions will be muted before they can even begin.
Mobile has indeed achieved total saturation, but the use of content and services haven't followed suit, and has meant we are yet to see the fabled 'year of mobile advertising' revolution.
But with O2's prediction that mobile marketing spend is to grow 150% over the next five years it seems entirely feasible that it could happen so long as the channel helps itself to grow.
The opportunity lies in generating new spend from the thousands of clients yet to experiment with mobile, and although mobile is still ranked alongside social networking as a nice-to-have, rather than an essential, it will never be relevant for all.
But clever spend, in the right channels, will allows brands to punch above their weight, and potentially deliver an effective alternative.
So, in order to take full advantage, mobile must ensure it overcomes the ongoing hurdles of education, fragmentation and usability. If it fails, then the platform will never become ubiquitous, and any potential revolutions will be muted before they can even begin.
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